House votes to hold Leon Black in contempt of Congress over his refusal to appear for a deposition related to the Epstein investigation. The House Oversight Committee has moved to hold Black in contempt, with the Department of Justice deciding whether to pursue criminal charges against him.
Black, a billionaire with ties to Epstein, failed to comply with a subpoena demanding he appear before the committee and share documents related to Epstein. Lawyers for Black have called the contempt move 'outrageous,' arguing the House is ignoring ongoing litigation challenging the Committee's actions and an ethics complaint against Chairman Comer.
The measure, which passed by unanimous consent, means the matter will be referred to the Department of Justice, which will determine if criminal prosecution is warranted. Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer emphasized that no one is above the law, stating the vote is a step toward justice and accountability for survivors.
Black, who left Apollo Global Management in 2021 amid scrutiny over his Epstein ties, has denied any wrongdoing. He told lawmakers in June he hired Epstein as a wealth management adviser and gave him $158 million for legitimate reasons, claiming he learned of Epstein's crimes only after he was charged with sex trafficking in 2019.