US House cites Leon Black in Epstein contempt case
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday held billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he defied subpoenas in the chamber’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution passed by unanimous consent, and the case will now be referred to the Justice Department to decide whether criminal charges should be pursued.
Key Points
- The contempt resolution was adopted without a recorded vote, one day after the House Oversight Committee unanimously recommended the action.
- Committee chairman James Comer said Black defied two subpoenas and vowed to keep seeking transparency and justice for survivors.
- Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, missed a September 3 deposition and did not fully comply with a subpoena for nondisclosure agreements.
- Black had appeared voluntarily in June and acknowledged paying Epstein US$158 million for tax and estate-planning advice.
- His lawyers called the House move “outrageous”, said lawmakers rushed the process, and vowed to continue challenging the subpoenas in court.
Why It Matters
The referral puts the next decision in the hands of the Justice Department, making this a test of how aggressively US authorities will enforce congressional subpoenas in a politically sensitive investigation. For Hong Kong readers tracking global finance, the case also keeps scrutiny on a prominent Apollo co-founder whose ties to Epstein have drawn renewed attention in Washington.