The House Oversight Committee voted to recommend holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The full House will now vote on the measure, which could lead to prosecution.
The recommendation for contempt of Congress against Leon Black highlights the ongoing scrutiny of individuals' ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the legal ramifications of non-compliance with congressional subpoenas.
The U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee voted to recommend holding billionaire financier Leon Black in contempt of Congress on Tuesday, after he declined to comply with subpoenas as part of a probe into the activities of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The committee's 41-0 vote sets up a vote by the full House, which could refer the case to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.
Black, who co-founded private equity giant Apollo Global Management, is among several prominent figures called to testify about their ties to Epstein. He gave up his role as Apollo chief executive in 2021 after an external law firm found he had paid Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning. Black has sued the committee and declined to appear at a deposition, arguing the subpoenas are invalid and exceed the committee's authority.
Committee Chair James Comer stated Black's testimony is crucial due to his close relationship with Epstein. Black denies any wrongdoing and claims no knowledge of Epstein's crimes. His lawyers said the contempt resolution showed the committee had "lost sight of its legislative purpose and (was) abusing its power."