House Oversight Chair Threatens Leon Black with Contempt Over Epstein Probe

James Comer, the Republican head of the House oversight panel, issued a warning to Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Asset Management, that the committee will use contempt powers if Black fails to supply responsive documents or attend a scheduled deposition on September 3, 2026. Comer’s letter, addressed to Black’s attorney Susan Estrich, alleges that Black is deliberately stalling the probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities.

Estrich countered that the letter misstates the facts and characterizes the inquiry as a political witch hunt. The clash focuses on Black’s production of non-disclosure agreements, with the committee demanding all such contracts while Black has offered only one pre-2019 NDA and seeks a voluntary interview instead of a subpoena. Comer argues that agreements signed after Epstein’s death could still affect victims, whereas Black’s team claims Congress is overreaching into private matters. The broader investigation examines Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking network and any attempts to influence federal investigations.