The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted 41–0 on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, to recommend that the full House hold former Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas tied to the panel’s probe of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, CBS News, CNBC, and ABC News reported.

The resolution now advances to the House floor. Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) told ABC News he expects a floor vote this week before lawmakers leave Thursday for midterm campaigning, though he deferred timing to GOP leadership; Speaker Mike Johnson had not announced a date.

Subpoenas for deposition and NDAs

Black refused to appear for a scheduled Sept. 3 deposition and did not produce subpoenaed nondisclosure agreements, according to CBS, CNBC, and the committee. On Sept. 3 he sued Comer and the committee in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., seeking to block enforcement and arguing the subpoenas lacked a legitimate legislative purpose. He had given a voluntary closed-door interview in June; reporting describes him leaving over NDA-related questions.

“Subpoenas are not suggestions; they carry the force of law and require full compliance,” Comer said at the markup, per CNBC. “We have no choice but to hold him in contempt.” Ranking Democrat Robert Garcia (Calif.) backed the move, saying the investigation is about survivors and that “billionaires like Leon Black believe that they are above the law.”

Black’s attorneys: “complete abomination”

Attorneys Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler called the markup “a complete abomination” and “retaliation,” claiming a constitutional right to challenge “illegitimate” subpoenas, CNBC reported. They said they were filing a complaint with the Office of Congressional Conduct about Comer’s pre-deposition conduct and asked the panel to postpone. In a separate letter they disputed Garcia’s characterization of sexual-assault accusations and said committee rhetoric had exposed Black to threats.

Apollo disclosed in 2021 that Black paid Epstein $158 million for tax and estate advice from 2012–2017 after Epstein’s 2008 Florida plea; Black stepped down as CEO in March 2021. He has not been charged with wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Black is not yet held in contempt by the full House — only recommended by Oversight — and the Justice Department referral, if any, would follow a floor vote.

Congressional subpoena power is one of the few tools lawmakers have to pierce private NDAs and concentrated wealth around the Epstein network; whether that power survives court challenge — and whether a midterm-bound House finishes the contempt vote — is the next fight.

Sources