House Oversight Committee recommends contempt charges against Clintons
House Oversight Committee recommends contempt charges against Bill and Hillary Clinton in Epstein probe.
Event / Politics
Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Contempt
U.S. House Oversight Committee investigation into billionaire Leon Black's relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Black held in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas and refusing to produce nondisclosure agreements. Investigation includes testimony from 19 witnesses and legislative efforts to allow abuse survivors to speak publicly.
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2026-09-17 to 2026-11-05 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 17 Sept, 00:30 UTC
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What happened
House votes to hold Leon Black in contempt of Congress
The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to hold billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee. The measure passed by unanimous consent on September 16, 2026, following a committee vote of 41-0 to recommend contempt charges. The matter was referred to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution.
Leon Black stepped down from Apollo Global Management over Epstein payments
Leon Black resigned from his position as head of Apollo Global Management in 2021 after his payments to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became public. Black has denied any wrongdoing associated with his relationship with Epstein.
Leon Black appeared for voluntary June interview but left early
Leon Black appeared for a closed-door, voluntary interview before the House Oversight Committee in June 2026. However, Black walked out before the interview concluded and declined to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements he may have signed, including those with survivors of Epstein's abuse.
Epstein investigation has heard from 19 witnesses
As the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein entered its second year, 19 people had appeared before the committee, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Bill Gates, former Attorney General Pam Bondi, Epstein's former accountant Richard Kahn, and former attorney Darren Indyke.
Leon Black paid Epstein millions after 2008 conviction
Between 2013 and 2017, billionaire Leon Black paid Jeffrey Epstein millions of dollars following Epstein's initial conviction in 2008 on prostitution charges involving a minor. Black stated he paid Epstein over $100 million for tax and estate planning services, claiming these services saved him billions of dollars. Black's name appears thousands of times in Justice Department Epstein files.
Comer introduces bill to allow survivors to bypass nondisclosure agreements
Representative James Comer introduced a bill on September 16, 2026, to allow survivors of sexual abuse to share their stories even if they signed nondisclosure agreements. The bill was introduced just before the House voted to hold Leon Black in contempt.
Leon Black defies congressional subpoenas in Epstein investigation
Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, failed to comply with two subpoenas from the House Oversight Committee investigating his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Black was subpoenaed to appear for a deposition under oath on September 3, 2026, and to produce nondisclosure agreements. Instead of complying, Black filed a lawsuit in D.C. federal court challenging the validity of the subpoenas.
House Oversight Committee recommends contempt charges against Bill and Hillary Clinton
In January 2026, the House Oversight Committee voted to recommend contempt charges against former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for initially refusing to testify before the committee's Epstein investigation. However, the Clintons later relented and appeared for recorded depositions, preventing the contempt vote from reaching the House floor.
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2 alternative perspectives
Investigation expands to 19 witnesses as lawmakers pursue survivor protections
Investigation now includes 19 witnesses; lawmakers propose bill freeing survivors from nondisclosure constraints.
Apollo chief Leon Black resigns amid Epstein payment scrutiny
Apollo chief Leon Black resigns following scrutiny over Epstein payments and congressional defiance.
House votes to hold Leon Black in contempt over Epstein subpoena defiance
House holds Leon Black in contempt for defying Epstein investigation subpoenas despite prior payments to Epstein.