House Holds Leon Black in Contempt Over Epstein Probe

UPDATE Sep 16, 2026 2:40 PM CDT

The House approved a resolution Wednesday holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress for his noncompliance with subpoenas as part of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The matter now is being referred to the Department of Justice, which will decide whether to pursue a criminal prosecution of Black, per the AP. A group of women who have accused Epstein of abusing them praised the House Oversight Committee for its vote on Tuesday to seek a contempt charge, per the Guardian. The unanimous vote sends a "clear message that wealth and influence do not put anyone beyond the reach of congressional oversight," their statement said.

Sep 16, 2026 1:30 AM CDT

The House Oversight Committee voted Tuesday to recommend that billionaire Leon Black be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena for testimony in the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, the AP reports. Republicans and Democrats joined unanimously in the bipartisan vote after Black refused to appear this month for a sworn deposition and produce requested nondisclosure agreements. Black sued the panel, asking a federal court to block the subpoenas. Black is the former chief executive of a private equity firm that lawmakers say funneled millions to Epstein. Republican Rep. James Comer, the chairman of the Oversight Committee, said Black is "hiding behind litigation to delay having to provide answers to the American people."

"No one is above the law," Comer of Kentucky said. "We have no choice but to hold him in contempt." The panel's ranking Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, said Black's behavior is "unacceptable." "We are going to stand up," he said, and remind people that "subpoenas are not suggestions." The recommendation to hold Black in contempt would next go to the full House for a vote. If approved, it would send the contempt finding to the Justice Department, with the possibility of prosecution. The House is scheduled to break later this week until after the midterm election in November, making next steps uncertain.

Black's attorneys issued a scathing response, calling the committee's action a "complete abomination." The attorneys said they have filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Conduct seeking an investigation into what they called Comer's unethical tactics. They said Garcia is "spouting hate-filled lies" about Black. The lawsuit claims the committee overstepped its authority in issuing the subpoenas.