WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, voted by unanimous consent to hold former Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying Oversight Committee subpoenas tied to its Jeffrey Epstein investigation, CNBC and NBC News reported.

The floor action follows Tuesday’s Oversight Committee vote recommending contempt 41–0. The contempt case centers on Black’s failure to appear for a Sept. 3 deposition and incomplete production of nondisclosure agreements under a separate subpoena, the outlets said.

The resolution sets up House Speaker Mike Johnson to certify a referral to the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for possible prosecution. Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor that can carry up to a year in prison and a fine, CNBC noted; it is not clear whether DOJ will prosecute.

Black has sued in D.C. federal court seeking to block the subpoenas. Attorneys Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler called the House action “outrageous,” saying lawmakers “rushed” the inquiry despite active litigation and an ethics complaint against Oversight Chair James Comer, CNBC reported. Comer said Wednesday that “no one is above the law” and that Black “defied two subpoenas,” per NBC. Ranking Democrat Robert Garcia called the vote “an important step towards justice and accountability” and said members need to know why Black “gave Jeffrey Epstein $180 million,” NBC and CNBC reported — while Apollo previously disclosed Black paid Epstein about $158 million for tax and estate advice from 2012 to 2017.

Black stepped down as Apollo CEO in 2021 amid that disclosure. He has denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and has not been charged with Epstein-related crimes; his lawyers say he regrets doing business with Epstein and never paid him for access to women.

Dated Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026: full House unanimous-consent contempt of Leon Black after Oversight’s 41–0 recommend; DOJ referral stage next.

Sources