The House has approved a resolution holding billionaire investor and Apollo Global Management (APO) co-founder Leon Black in contempt of Congress.
The contempt referral follows Black’s refusal to comply with subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee had previously voted unanimously 41-0 to recommend the contempt resolution after Black defied its demands for testimony and documents.
Black was subpoenaed to appear for a closed-door deposition on September 3 and to turn over nondisclosure agreements sought by investigators.
The Oversight Committee is investigating how the federal government failed survivors of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes across decades and how Epstein cultivated relationships with influential figures to avoid scrutiny.
Black had an extensive personal and financial relationship with Epstein spanning decades, paying him at least $158 million after Epstein became a registered sex offender.
Black says the payments were for tax and estate planning services among other things, and he has maintained he had no knowledge of any abuse by Epstein.
Black co-founded Apollo Global Management (APO) and stepped down from the firm in 2021 amid public fallout over the extent of his financial ties to the disgraced financier.
Black walked out of a voluntary interview with the committee two months ago and filed a lawsuit against the panel on the very day he was commanded to appear for his deposition.
Black’s attorneys Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler lambasted the contempt resolution as “a complete abomination,” saying the committee “has lost sight of its legislative purpose and is abusing its power.”
The attorneys added: “This is retaliation — plain and simple. We have the constitutional right to sue Chairman Comer and the committee because the subpoenas issued were illegitimate, illegal and a textbook abuse of power designed to bully and destroy legal protections of private citizens.”
Black’s legal team also submitted a complaint to the Office of Congressional Conduct alleging that “Chairman Comer engaged in what should be viewed as a violation of the Rules of the House of Representatives relating to the deposition” before the scheduled September 3 appearance.
Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., struck a firm tone at the committee meeting, stating: “Subpoenas are not suggestions; they carry the force of law and require full compliance.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking Democrat, said in a statement: “Holding Leon Black in contempt of Congress is a critical step in the fight for justice for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein.”
Garcia added that Black “failed to appear for his deposition and has refused to provide critical information to this Committee,” calling the House vote a necessary measure.
The contempt referral now moves to the Department of Justice, which will determine whether to pursue criminal prosecution against Black for his defiance of the congressional subpoenas.
