US House holds Epstein associate Leon Black in contempt

The US House of Representatives has held billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas related to the investigation into the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution was adopted unanimously, and the matter will now be referred to the justice department to decide on potential criminal charges.

Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, missed a deposition and did not comply with a separate subpoena seeking nondisclosure agreements. His lawyers have criticized the House action as "outrageous" and vowed to continue challenging the subpoenas in court. Black had previously appeared before the committee in June and acknowledged paying Epstein for tax and estate-planning advice, but declined to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements, leading lawmakers to demand further testimony and documents.

Despite denying any wrongdoing, Black has consistently claimed he was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities. The scandal surrounding Epstein has persisted, with lawmakers investigating prominent individuals who had connections to the disgraced financier.

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