The Guardian – Democrat calls for billionaire Leon Black to be held in contempt for defying subpoenas in Epstein case

Democrat representative Robert Garcia called for Leon Black to be held in contempt after the billionaire investor did not show up for a scheduled deposition about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

“By refusing to testify today, Leon Black is now defying two Congressional subpoenas,” said Garcia, the ranking member of the oversight committee.

“His connections to Epstein and his unwillingness to cooperate are unacceptable,” Garcia also said. “We must hold him in contempt immediately.”

Black, whose name has come up repeatedly in the Epstein files, has denied wrongdoing. Black also said that he regrets dealing with Epstein.

Black left his transcribed interview with the oversight committee in June after refusing to respond to questions about non-disclosure agreements purportedly related to Epstein, according to reports.

Black’s attorneys on Thursday sued the oversight committee, alleging that two congressional subpoenas were “invalid.”

“The Committee is on a fishing expedition that oversteps its authority and completely ignores its responsibility,” his lawyers said in a statement about the lawsuit. “This is no longer about finding the truth about Epstein. It is about trying to destroy Mr. Black. We were left with no choice but to file this lawsuit in response to an abuse of Congressional power.”