House votes to hold Leon Black in contempt over Epstein-related subpoenas

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with subpoenas tied to a committee investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. The vote clears the way for House Speaker Mike Johnson to certify the matter and refer it to the Department of Justice for possible criminal prosecution.

Unanimous House action sets up DOJ referral

The House voted Wednesday by unanimous consent to hold Black in contempt. House Speaker Mike Johnson will certify the contempt finding and refer Black’s conduct to the DOJ.

A day earlier, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved a resolution recommending contempt in a 41-0 vote. A DOJ spokesperson said the department expects to receive the referral and will review it through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Contempt stems from missed deposition and withheld NDAs

The contempt action follows Black’s failure to appear for a transcribed deposition by the House oversight committee on Sept. 3 after receiving a subpoena for the appearance.

It also stems from incomplete compliance with a separate subpoena seeking copies of nondisclosure agreements Black was party to. Black provided one NDA, which his attorneys said was the only one Epstein knew about, while withholding others.

Contempt of Congress defendants face a possible sentence of not less than 1 month and not more than 12 months in prison.

Black’s attorneys call the move “outrageous” and cite pending litigation

Black’s attorneys, Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler, called the contempt vote “outrageous,” arguing it ignores facts and the truth about Black. They said the House moved quickly through the inquiry despite “active litigation” and an ethics complaint involving Chairman James Comer.

Black sued the committee and Comer on Sept. 3 seeking to block the subpoenas. The lawsuit is pending in U.S. District Court in Washington, according to the complaint.

Committee leaders and DOJ say the referral will be reviewed

House Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said Black “defied two subpoenas” and that the House acted swiftly to hold him in contempt. Comer said the investigation aims for transparency and justice for survivors related to the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell criminal cases.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the oversight panel, said the vote is a step toward accountability.

The DOJ spokesperson said the department will take allegations seriously and will not hesitate to pursue additional cases where the evidence supports.

Why this matters

The contempt vote puts Leon Black on a path that could lead to criminal prosecution, while also intensifying congressional scrutiny of subpoenas connected to the Epstein-related investigation. With the referral headed to DOJ and litigation already challenging the subpoenas, the next phase will focus on whether prosecutors pursue the case and how courts evaluate the committee’s authority.