Billionaire Leon Black, cofounder of Apollo Global Management, has sued the House Oversight Committee over subpoenas demanding documents and further testimony regarding his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Black refused to appear for a scheduled deposition on Thursday, prompting Representative Robert Garcia to call for a contempt of Congress citation. Black’s lawyer characterized the committee’s investigation as a “fishing expedition” aimed at damaging his reputation, while the committee maintains it is seeking to uncover the truth about Epstein’s network.
The subpoenas seek information related to nondisclosure agreements and Black’s prior testimony in June, where he reportedly declined to answer questions about those agreements. The lawsuit argues the committee has exceeded its authority. Several influential figures have been called to testify before the House panel as part of the investigation, which stems from recently released Department of Justice files related to Epstein’s case. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan detention facility in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, and Ghislane Maxwell, his confidante, remains the only other person charged in connection with the allegations.
In a separate matter, Vice President Vance downplayed the ongoing US-Iran conflict, stating there are “no active shooting” operations despite recent strikes. Vance also addressed reports of US strikes hitting a wedding in Iran, expressing skepticism and stating the US investigates such claims, learning from mistakes when they occur. He described Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a “very good friend” and an “amazing secretary of war,” emphasizing a desire for a “culture shift” within the Department of War. Vance also acknowledged a potential disadvantage for the US in the artificial intelligence race if Democrats were to gain control of Congress, while also attempting to bridge the gap between opposition to data centers and the Trump administration’s AI fervor, citing a focus on ratepayer protection.
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