Leon Black Empty Chair Deposition in the House Epstein Investigation
Snapshot
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Empty chair deposition proceeding |
| Witness | Leon David Black |
| Date | September 3, 2026 |
| Committee | U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform |
| Chair | Representative James Comer |
| Video | Watch the official committee video |
| Video length | 3 minutes, 55 seconds |
| Central issue | Black did not appear for a deposition required by a congressional subpoena |
| Related dispute | Committee demands for testimony and nondisclosure agreements |
| Later development | The committee voted 41 to 0 on September 15, 2026, to recommend that the House hold Black in contempt of Congress |
| Status | The contempt recommendation was awaiting consideration by the full House as of September 16, 2026 |
Overview
On September 3, 2026, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform convened a deposition for billionaire financier Leon Black as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the federal response to their crimes.
Black did not appear.
Committee personnel proceeded with an empty chair deposition, formally documented his absence, entered six exhibits into the record, and concluded the proceeding after approximately four minutes.
The committee published footage under the title “Exclusive Footage of Leon Black’s Empty Chair Deposition on Epstein Investigation”.
The proceeding did not produce testimony from Black. Its evidentiary purpose was to document the subpoena, the committee’s communications with Black and his attorneys, the scheduled deposition, Black’s absence, and the lawsuit he filed against the committee.
What the Video Shows
The video begins with a committee official identifying the proceeding as the deposition of Leon David Black.
The official summarizes the committee’s attempts to obtain Black’s testimony:
- Chairman James Comer requested a voluntary interview in a letter dated March 3, 2026.
- Black appeared for a transcribed interview on June 26, 2026.
- During that interview, Black declined to answer certain questions concerning nondisclosure agreements.
- Comer issued subpoenas requiring Black to provide documents and appear for a deposition.
- The deposition was originally scheduled for July 16, 2026.
- At Black’s request, the committee rescheduled the deposition for September 3, 2026.
- Black did not appear at the rescheduled proceeding.
At approximately 10:18 a.m., committee counsel stated for the record that Black was not present. His absence was confirmed again at approximately 10:20 a.m.
Video Timeline
| Approximate time | Event |
|---|---|
| 0:05 | The proceeding is identified as the deposition of Leon David Black |
| 0:16 | Committee counsel describes Comer’s March 3 request for a voluntary interview |
| 0:35 | Counsel discusses Black’s June 26 transcribed interview |
| 0:48 | Counsel states that Black declined to answer certain questions about nondisclosure agreements |
| 1:14 | The committee’s subpoena for a deposition is described |
| 1:30 | Counsel explains that the deposition was postponed and rescheduled |
| 1:46 | Black’s absence is placed on the record |
| 2:13 | Six exhibits are introduced |
| 3:04 | Comer addresses Black’s failure to appear |
| 3:37 | Minority counsel states that there is nothing to add |
| 3:48 | The proceeding concludes |
Exhibits Entered Into the Record
| Exhibit | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Comer’s March 3, 2026, letter requesting Black’s voluntary appearance |
| 2 | The official transcript of Black’s June 26, 2026, interview |
| 3 | The June 26 subpoena and accompanying letter requiring Black to appear for a deposition |
| 4 | Correspondence between the committee and Black’s counsel, including letters dated July 24, August 18, and September 3 |
| 5 | The committee’s formal deposition notice |
| 6 | Black’s September 3 federal complaint seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the committee and Comer |
The video appears to describe the deposition notice as having been issued on August 31, 2025. That date is inconsistent with the surrounding 2026 chronology and should be verified against the original exhibit before being cited as definitive.
The March 3 Interview Request
Comer’s March 3, 2026, letter to Black stated that the committee was reviewing:
- The alleged mismanagement of federal investigations into Epstein and Maxwell
- The circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death
- The operation of sex trafficking organizations
- Possible methods for improving the federal response to trafficking
- Epstein and Maxwell’s efforts to obtain influence and protection
- Possible ethics violations involving elected officials
The committee initially requested that Black appear voluntarily on May 13, 2026. His interview ultimately took place on June 26.
The June 26 Interview
Black appeared for a private transcribed interview on June 26, 2026. The committee later published the official interview transcript.
During the interview, Black denied abusing women, participating in sex trafficking, having sexual relations with minors, or knowing about Epstein’s criminal conduct.
The interview became contentious when committee investigators asked about nondisclosure agreements involving Black. According to the committee, Black refused to answer some of those questions and left before investigators had completed their examination.
That same day, Comer issued two subpoenas:
- One required Black to appear for a deposition.
- The other required him to produce nondisclosure agreements.
The committee stated that the agreements could be relevant to determining whether confidentiality provisions had concealed evidence of criminal activity, trafficking, abuse, or Epstein related conduct.
Black’s Lawsuit Against the Committee
On September 3, 2026, the same day as the scheduled deposition, Black filed a federal lawsuit against the House Oversight Committee and Comer.
Black asked the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to declare the subpoenas invalid and prevent their enforcement.
His complaint argued that the committee had exceeded its lawful authority and was seeking private information without a sufficient connection to a legitimate legislative purpose. His attorneys also argued that disclosure could violate the privacy of women who had no known connection to Epstein.
Black’s legal position directly conflicted with the committee’s assertion that the subpoenas were valid, properly authorized, and essential to its investigation.
The filing of a lawsuit did not automatically cancel or suspend the committee’s subpoenas.
Comer’s Statement at the Empty Chair Proceeding
After Black’s absence was documented, Comer criticized his failure to appear.
Comer stated that the subpoena had bipartisan support and that Black’s testimony was important because of his extensive financial relationship with Epstein and the existence of multiple nondisclosure agreements.
In a formal committee statement issued that day, Comer said the investigation was examining how the federal government failed Epstein and Maxwell survivors and how Epstein used relationships with influential people to avoid scrutiny.
The committee described Black as one of Epstein’s paying clients and said his testimony was crucial to understanding Epstein’s financial and influence networks.
These are committee assertions explaining the investigative basis for the subpoenas. They are not criminal findings against Black.
September 15 Contempt Vote
On September 15, 2026, the Oversight Committee voted unanimously, 41 to 0, to recommend that the full House find Black in contempt of Congress.
The committee said Black had failed to appear for the September 3 deposition and had produced only one nondisclosure agreement, despite communications suggesting that additional agreements existed.
The committee’s contempt announcement stated that the resolution would be forwarded to the House of Representatives.
The committee vote did not itself create a criminal conviction. A criminal contempt referral would require action by the full House and referral to the Department of Justice. Any prosecution would remain subject to normal judicial procedures and defenses.
Reuters reported that the committee vote was 41 to 0.
Black’s Financial Relationship With Epstein
Black was a major paying client of Epstein after Epstein’s 2008 Florida conviction.
The Oversight Committee states that Black paid Epstein at least $158 million for tax, estate planning, and related services. That figure also appeared in an independent review commissioned by Apollo Global Management and has been widely reported.
Black has said that he deeply regrets his relationship with Epstein. He has denied paying Epstein for access to women, participating in trafficking, abusing minors, or knowing about Epstein’s criminal activities.
The payments establish a substantial financial relationship. Standing alone, they do not establish that Black participated in Epstein’s crimes.
Related EFTA Evidence
The committee’s focus on nondisclosure agreements has potential relevance to documents released through the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
EFTA02731576
EFTA02731576 contains extracted text from communications attributed to a woman seeking a copy of an agreement she said she had signed. The communication also contains serious accusations against Black.
Those statements are allegations by the sender. Their presence in an investigative document does not establish that the accusations were proven or adjudicated.
EFTA00079370
EFTA00079370 is identified in the Epstein files database as an FBI interview record concerning allegations against Black and an alleged nondisclosure agreement.
The document records information provided to investigators. An FBI interview memorandum documents what a witness reported. It is not itself a judicial determination that every reported statement is true.
EFTA01660622
EFTA01660622 contains an investigative summary that references allegations involving Black. The allegations include claims of sexual abuse, trafficking, threats, and conduct associated with Epstein’s network.
These are investigative allegations rather than criminal convictions or civil findings against Black.
Evidentiary Significance
The empty chair video is significant because it creates a public audiovisual record of Black’s nonappearance.
It documents:
- The committee’s assertion that Black received a valid subpoena
- The accommodation of a requested postponement
- The date and time of the rescheduled deposition
- Black’s absence
- The exhibits supporting the committee’s chronology
- The committee’s stated reasons for seeking testimony and nondisclosure agreements
- The existence of Black’s federal lawsuit challenging the subpoenas
The video became part of the factual basis used by the committee when it later recommended contempt proceedings.
What the Video Does Not Establish
The video does not contain testimony from Black.
It does not independently establish that:
- Black committed sexual abuse or trafficking
- Black knowingly financed criminal conduct
- Every agreement sought by the committee concerns Epstein
- Black’s legal challenge is invalid
- Black was in criminal contempt at the time of the recording
- Allegations contained in EFTA documents are proven facts
The recording primarily establishes the committee’s procedure, Black’s absence, the documents entered into the record, and the committee’s position regarding the subpoenas.
Unresolved Questions
- How many nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements involving Black are responsive to the committee’s subpoena?
- Do any of those agreements concern Epstein, Maxwell, alleged trafficking, or people connected to their network?
- What documents did Black produce before the contempt vote?
- Will the full House vote on the contempt resolution?
- Will the federal court enforce, narrow, or invalidate either subpoena?
- Did any federal agency previously obtain the agreements now sought by Congress?
- What investigative steps followed the allegations recorded in EFTA documents involving Black?
- Will the committee publish the six exhibits entered during the empty chair proceeding?
Primary Sources
- Official empty chair deposition video
- March 3, 2026, interview request
- June 26, 2026, Leon Black interview transcript
- Committee announcement of the two subpoenas
- Committee statement concerning Black’s nonappearance
- Committee announcement of the contempt recommendation
- Reuters report on the 41 to 0 contempt vote
- Associated Press report on Black’s lawsuit and nonappearance
- EFTA02731576
- EFTA00079370
- EFTA01660622