Politics
US House votes to hold Leon Black in contempt over Epstein probe
September 16, 2026 at 07:59 PM
Coverage
3 reports · over 4 hours
TGThe Guardian
House votes to hold Leon Black in contempt over Epstein subpoenas refusal
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
US House votes to hold billionaire Epstein associate Leon Black in contempt on Congress
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Epstein survivors praise House committee for recommending Leon Black be held in contempt
(opens the publisher’s site)The US House of Representatives has voted to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas in its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
- Black missed his 3 September deposition and did not produce the nondisclosure agreements sought by the House Oversight Committee.
- Committee Chair James Comer said "no one is above the law" after the vote, vowing to seek "justice for survivors."
- Comer has announced the Survivor's Voice Protection Act, legislation to let abuse survivors speak freely even if they signed a nondisclosure agreement.
- Black has filed a legal challenge calling the subpoenas invalid and has denied wrongdoing or any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities.
- The contempt referral has been forwarded to the Department of Justice, which is not required to act on it but will decide whether to pursue the matter.