House Panel Votes 41-0 to Hold Leon Black in Contempt

The House Oversight Committee voted unanimously, 41-0, to recommend that billionaire financier Leon Black be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to fully comply with subpoenas issued as part of its Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Chairman James Comer said Black’s testimony was important because of his long relationship with Epstein during the period when Epstein was engaged in sex trafficking. Black had previously appeared voluntarily for a transcribed interview, but that session ended after lawmakers said he refused to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements. The committee later subpoenaed him for both testimony and all NDAs to which he was a party. According to Comer, Black ultimately produced only one NDA and then failed to appear for a scheduled September 3 deposition. The contempt recommendation now moves to the full House, which would have to decide whether to formally hold him in contempt.

Black has fought the subpoenas in federal court, arguing that they exceed the committee’s lawful authority and improperly seek private information unrelated to any legitimate legislative purpose. His lawyers also argued that producing the NDAs could expose women who had negotiated confidentiality and had no public connection to Epstein, while accusing Comer and ranking Democrat Robert Garcia of abusing congressional power. Black has denied wrongdoing, denied knowing about Epstein’s criminal conduct and said he regrets ever doing business with him. The committee, however, pointed to the roughly $170 million Black paid Epstein for tax and estate-planning services between 2013 and 2017 and to repeated appearances of Black’s name in Epstein-related records. More than a dozen Epstein survivors had also urged Black to comply, arguing that the NDAs could shed light on his relationship with Epstein and others in Epstein’s orbit.



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House panel recommends Leon Black be held in contempt over Epstein inquiry subpoenas | House of Representatives | The Guardian