The House Oversight Committee voted unanimously to recommend holding billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

The House Oversight Committee voted 41-0 on Tuesday to recommend holding billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress. The committee took action after Black, a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, failed to comply with subpoenas to appear for a deposition and produce nondisclosure agreements regarding his professional ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Background of the Investigation

Lawmakers have been investigating Black's financial relationship with Epstein, who served as a wealth management adviser for tax and estate planning. Black previously participated in a voluntary, closed-door interview in June but left abruptly after refusing to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements. Black has stated he met Epstein in the 1990s and began paying him for advice in 2013, though he has since expressed regret over the professional association.

Legal Challenges and Next Steps

Black is currently challenging the committee's subpoenas in D.C. federal court, arguing that the requests lack a legitimate legislative purpose and that producing the requested nondisclosure agreements would violate the privacy of individuals unconnected to Epstein. His attorneys have maintained that Black was unaware of Epstein's crimes and that Epstein had no involvement in the agreements. The contempt resolution now moves to the full House for a vote, which would then refer the matter to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.