US House holds Epstein associate Leon Black in contempt

Washington: The US House of Representatives voted unanimously on Wednesday to hold billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas in its probe of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution was passed without debate, following a recommendation from the House Oversight Committee. The case will be handed over to the Justice Department, which will determine if criminal charges are warranted.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Jamie Comer stated that no one is above the law, emphasizing the committee's commitment to transparency and justice for victims of Epstein's crimes. Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, missed a deposition on September 3 and did not comply with a separate subpoena requesting nondisclosure agreements.

His legal team denounced the House's actions as "outrageous," alleging rushed proceedings and pledged to continue challenging the subpoenas in court. Black had previously testified voluntarily in June, admitting to paying Epstein $158 million for financial advice, but refused to address certain nondisclosure issues, leading to further demands for testimony and documents.

Black maintains he had no awareness of Epstein's alleged criminal behavior. Epstein was found dead in 2019 while in federal custody, an event ruled a suicide, despite ongoing investigations by congressional investigators into his alleged sex trafficking activities involving minors.