House panel votes unanimously to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt over Epstein probe

The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday unanimously recommended holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with subpoenas seeking his testimony and nondisclosure agreements as part of lawmakers' investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

The bipartisan 41-0 vote came after Black declined to appear for a sworn deposition and failed to provide the documents sought by the committee. He has sued the panel and its chairman, Republican Rep. James Comer, in federal court, arguing that the subpoenas exceed the committee's authority.

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Black's attorney has described the congressional inquiry as a "fishing expedition", while Black's lawsuit argues that lawmakers have overstepped their authority.

Comer said Black was using the litigation to avoid answering questions about his longstanding relationship with Epstein.

"Black is hiding behind litigation to delay having to provide answers to the American people," Comer said.

"No one is above the law," he added. "We have no choice but to hold him in contempt."

The committee's top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, also backed the contempt resolution, saying Black's refusal to cooperate was unacceptable.

"We are going to stand up," Garcia said, adding that "subpoenas are not suggestions."

The contempt recommendation now goes to the full House, which must vote on whether to hold Black in contempt. If approved, the matter would be referred to the Justice Department, potentially opening the door to prosecution. The House is scheduled to leave Washington later this week for its pre-election recess, leaving the timing of further action uncertain.

Also Read: Bill Gates to testify in congressional panel's Jeffrey Epstein investigation

Why Black is at the centre of the inquiry

Black, the co-founder and former chief executive of Apollo Global Management, had a longstanding personal and financial relationship with Epstein. He stepped down as Apollo's CEO in 2021 after scrutiny over his ties to the convicted sex offender.

Lawmakers say Black paid Epstein more than $150 million over their yearslong relationship. Garcia said Tuesday that Black's testimony could help the committee examine how financial institutions and powerful individuals intersected with Epstein's trafficking operation.

Black appeared voluntarily before the committee in June, but lawmakers say he refused to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements. The panel subsequently issued two subpoenas — one compelling him to provide NDAs and another requiring him to appear for a deposition.

The committee initially scheduled Black's deposition for July 16, but accommodated his request to postpone it until September 3. Black did not appear on that date and instead filed his lawsuit challenging the subpoenas. The committee says he has provided only one NDA despite his lawyers indicating that others exist.

The panel has made Black's testimony a central part of its broader investigation into how Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cultivated relationships with wealthy and influential people and how government and law-enforcement systems failed to protect victims.

Comer said Black's knowledge of Epstein and Maxwell could be "invaluable" to the investigation.

The probe has drawn bipartisan support in the Oversight Committee and has sought information from other prominent figures with ties to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

The committee's investigation is also examining the role of financial institutions in Epstein's activities and what changes could help prevent failures in the legal and law-enforcement systems from being repeated.