The House approved a resolution on September 16, 2026, holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress, referring the matter to the Department of Justice after he did not comply with subpoenas issued by the Oversight Committee in its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution was passed without a formal vote, leaving the decision on potential criminal prosecution to the Justice Department. Black has not responded to requests to appear or to provide nondisclosure agreements related to the Epstein investigation.
Members of both parties on the Oversight Committee supported the resolution. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the chairman of the committee, stated, "No one is above the law. We will continue to seek transparency for the American people and justice for survivors in our investigation of the federal government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell criminal cases." California Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the panel, described the vote as "an important step towards justice and accountability."
Black's legal team has criticized the Oversight Committee's actions, claiming they represent an abuse of congressional power. Attorneys Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler stated that Black "had no knowledge of any of Epstein's heinous conduct" and accused the committee of pursuing information that does not exist. They labeled the action as "politically motivated" and have filed a lawsuit against the committee, requesting an investigation into Comer's tactics.
Black is among several high-profile individuals, including Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, who have been asked to provide testimony as part of the ongoing investigation into Epstein. Survivors of Epstein's alleged sexual abuse have shared their experiences of being involved in a trafficking operation organized by Epstein and Maxwell.
In June, Black participated in a voluntary interview with the committee but reportedly refused to answer questions regarding the nondisclosure agreements. The committee issued two subpoenas compelling Black to produce the NDAs and to appear for a deposition on July 16. Although the committee accommodated a request from Black to delay the deposition to September 3, he did not attend.
On September 15, the Oversight Committee unanimously approved the contempt recommendation, which was then sent to the full House for consideration. Black co-founded Apollo Global Management and resigned in 2021 amid scrutiny over his connections to Epstein. Lawmakers have alleged that Black paid Epstein $180 million during their relationship, while a 2021 review by Apollo indicated that Black paid Epstein $158 million from 2012 to 2017 for "bona fide tax, estate planning and other related services," despite Epstein's 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor.