The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously on Wednesday to hold billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The full House approved the contempt resolution by unanimous consent, one day after the Oversight Committee voted 41-0 to recommend the measure. The resolution now heads to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution. Defendants convicted of contempt of Congress face penalties ranging from one month to 12 months in prison.
The contempt action stems from Black’s refusal to appear for a transcribed deposition on September 3, 2024, and his failure to fully comply with a separate subpoena seeking copies of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) he had signed. Black had previously walked out of a closed-door interview with the committee in June 2024, during which he refused to answer questions about his financial relationship with Epstein.
Black filed a lawsuit on September 3 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., seeking to block the subpoenas. His attorneys argued the subpoenas were invalid because they sought information that exceeded the committee’s legislative authority and could expose private individuals who had bargained for confidentiality. That case remains pending.
Key Developments in the Investigation
The House Oversight Committee issued two subpoenas to Black in June 2024 after he refused to provide NDAs during his voluntary interview. The committee demanded:
- Testimony under oath regarding Black’s interactions with Epstein and his associates.
- Copies of all NDAs Black had signed, including those referencing Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.
Black has stated he did not engage in criminal conduct with Epstein and that his payments to Epstein—totaling $158 million between 2012 and 2017—were for legitimate financial advisory services. An internal review at Apollo Global Management, where Black was co-founder and former CEO, concluded he was not involved in Epstein’s criminal activities. Black stepped down from his role in January 2021 following the review.
Political and Legal Responses
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the Oversight Committee, accused Black of attempting to evade accountability. “No one is above the law,” Comer said. “Mr. Black will be treated the same as anyone else in this investigation, and his actions have consequences.”
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the committee’s ranking Democrat, framed the contempt vote as a step toward justice for Epstein’s survivors. “Leon Black has continued to defy two congressional subpoenas, and we need to know why he gave Jeffrey Epstein $180 million,” Garcia stated. “We will continue to center the survivors in our fight to hold those responsible for these horrific crimes.”
Black’s legal team called the House’s action an “outrageous” overreach, arguing it ignored ongoing litigation challenging the subpoenas’ validity and an ethics complaint against Comer. The statement emphasized that the committee had not addressed Black’s concerns about privacy violations for unrelated individuals named in the NDAs.
Broader Implications for NDAs in Sexual Abuse Cases
In a related development, Rep. Comer announced a proposed bill on Wednesday that would allow survivors of sexual abuse to break NDAs in certain circumstances. The legislation aims to prevent powerful individuals from using confidentiality agreements to silence victims. Comer cited reports that Epstein’s accusers had signed NDAs with associates of Epstein, some of whom were later accused of misconduct by multiple women.
The bill’s introduction follows reporting that some of Epstein’s accusers had reached confidential settlements with his associates, including NDAs. One individual told Business Insider they had direct knowledge of settlements involving four of Epstein’s associates, covering allegations from more than 20 women.
Next Steps
The Justice Department will now review the contempt referral to determine whether to pursue criminal charges against Black. The committee has indicated it will continue its investigation into Epstein’s network, including financial transactions and the role of NDAs in silencing victims.