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Black sues to block subpoenas
Billionaire Leon Black refused to testify before the House Oversight Committee and instead filed a lawsuit seeking to block two subpoenas tied to the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
“presentó una demanda contra la Comisión de Supervisión de la Cámara de Representantes”
Black’s filing argues the subpoenas exceed the committee’s authority by demanding nondisclosure agreements and other documents that are unrelated to Epstein or any legitimate legislative purpose, and it asks a federal judge to declare the subpoenas invalid and prevent enforcement.
In the lawsuit, Black’s attorneys said the committee is “carrying out an investigation without direction” and that “Ya no se trata de descubrir la verdad sobre Epstein. Se trata de intentar destruir al señor Black,” according to Susan Estrich.
The dispute escalated after the committee delivered two subpoenas during a June voluntary closed-door interview, when lawmakers said Black had refused to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements.
The House Oversight Committee’s top Democrat, Representative Robert Garcia, said the Congress “debe declararlo en desacato de inmediato” after Black declined to comply with the subpoenas.
Contempt push and empty chair
Representative Robert Garcia said the hearing should proceed with consequences, arguing that “By refusing to testify today, Leon Black has effectively ignored two congressional subpoenas.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said “It’s a shame Leon Black is hiding behind litigation rather than provide answers to the American people,” and he said the deposition would move forward with an empty chair for Black.
CNN reported that Black’s attorneys argued in a letter that the nondisclosure agreements the panel was seeking were “too broad” and had “no connection to Epstein,” while also disregarding the privacy interests of third parties.
CNN also quoted Black’s attorneys saying “Congress is not entitled to subpoena documents from a private citizen on the inchoate hope that something useful might show up.”
The standoff centers on whether Black will comply with the committee’s demands for testimony and documents, after a June interview ended abruptly when Comer issued two subpoenas following Black’s refusal to answer questions.
Money, privacy, and next steps
The committee’s Democrats framed the stakes around the scale of Black’s relationship with Epstein, with Garcia saying Black “gave Jeffrey Epstein over $180 million over six years.”
““By refusing to testify today, Leon Black is now defying two Congressional subpoenas.”
Garcia also said the committee’s case involves alleged harm, adding that “He funded Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of women,” and he called Black’s refusal to cooperate “unacceptable.”
Black’s legal team argued that producing nondisclosure agreements would expose women who “value their privacy” and who “bargained for confidentiality,” and it said the subpoenas would jeopardize their privacy.
NewsNation reported that Black’s representatives said the subpoenas would expose women who “have no ability to protect themselves and their privacy before the Committee,” and they characterized the committee’s effort as an abuse of congressional power.
As the dispute continues, the House committee leadership said the deposition would proceed without Black, while Black’s team said the parties had “irreconcilable differences” over the scope of further testimony and document production.