House panel votes to hold Leon Black in contempt

Committee votes unanimously

The House Oversight Committee voted Tuesday to hold Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he failed to appear for a deposition about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The vote was unanimous and bipartisan, meaning committee members from both parties backed the contempt action.

Black co-founded Apollo Global Management. Lawmakers have sought to question him about payments he made to Epstein totaling millions, as well as his broader connection to Epstein. Epstein was a sex offender and is deceased.

The contempt vote centered on Black’s failure to attend the deposition. A deposition is a formal session used to obtain testimony and ask detailed questions. By approving contempt, the committee formally recorded its objection to Black’s nonappearance and escalated the dispute over obtaining his testimony.

What the vote means for the inquiry

The committee vote addresses compliance with its request for testimony; it does not substitute for the deposition itself. The questions lawmakers want answered concern two connected matters: Black’s ties to Epstein and the payments totaling millions. Tuesday’s action leaves the testimony at the center of the dispute outstanding.

The next process questions are whether the House takes any additional action on the committee’s contempt decision and whether Black later appears for questioning. Any further schedule for a deposition would determine when lawmakers could directly ask him about the payments and relationship they are examining.