US House Cites Billionaire Epstein Associate for Contempt of Congress
The US House of Representatives unanimously voted to hold billionaire Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black in contempt of Congress for ignoring subpoenas in its Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The case now goes to the Justice Department, which will decide on possible criminal charges.
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution holding billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress, citing his refusal to comply with two subpoenas issued as part of the chamber's investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers passed the measure by unanimous consent without a recorded vote, a day after the House Oversight Committee unanimously recommended the move.
The matter now moves to the Justice Department, which will determine whether to pursue criminal charges against Black. Committee chairman Jamie Comer said in a statement that no one is above the law, noting that Black defied two subpoenas and that the House acted quickly in response. Comer added that the panel would keep pushing for transparency and justice for survivors as it examines how the federal government handled the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases.
Black, who co-founded the investment firm Apollo Global Management, skipped a scheduled deposition on September 3 and did not fully comply with a separate subpoena demanding nondisclosure agreements. His legal team described the House's action as outrageous, accused lawmakers of rushing the process, and said they intend to keep challenging the subpoenas in court.
In June, Black had voluntarily appeared before the committee and acknowledged paying Epstein $158 million for tax and estate-planning advice. That session was cut short after he declined to answer questions concerning certain nondisclosure agreements, prompting lawmakers to demand additional testimony and records. Black has consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying he had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal conduct.
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges involving minors, a death authorities classified as suicide. The scandal continues to reverberate in Washington, with lawmakers seeking testimony and documents from other prominent political and business figures connected to Epstein.
