Leon Black
Leon Black: Every Single Member Voted Yes. That’s Not the Part You Should Be Watching.
A billionaire just got thrown under the bus. The question is who’s still riding in it.
The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #1,025: Wednesday, September 16th, 2026.
Let me tell you what happened in Congress on Wednesday.
Then let me tell you what I think actually happened.
Because those are two different stories.
The Story You’ll Read Everywhere
The House of Representatives voted to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress.
Black is the former CEO of Apollo Global Management. He paid Jeffrey Epstein roughly $158 million between 2013 and 2017 for what he calls tax and financial services.
The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed him twice. Once to sit for a sworn deposition on September 3rd. Once to hand over nondisclosure agreements the committee believes he signed with women connected to Epstein.
He didn’t show.
He didn’t hand them over.
Instead…he sued.
So the committee voted 41 to 0 to hold him in contempt. The next day, the full House agreed by unanimous consent. Not one objection. Republicans. Democrats. Everybody.
It’s the first time a prominent Epstein associate has been sent to the Justice Department for possible criminal contempt charges. If convicted, he could face up to a year in prison.
Chairman James Comer summed it up: “No one is above the law.”
Black’s lawyers called the vote “a complete abomination.”
Black denies any wrongdoing. Law enforcement has never accused him of any.
That’s the story.
Now…here’s the one underneath it.
Ask Yourself One Question
When was the last time this Congress agreed on ANYTHING unanimously?
Think about it.
These people can’t agree on what day it is. They can’t fund the government without a hostage crisis. They can’t pass a bill to name a post office without somebody storming off to cable news.
But THIS…they agreed on in a day.
And they did it the day before leaving town to campaign for the midterms.
That timing is not an accident. Comer said openly he wanted the vote done before members went home.
Now…I’m not telling you the vote was wrong. It wasn’t. A man ignored two lawful subpoenas. Democrats voted for this too, and they were right to. Survivors deserve answers…and NDAs should never be a place to bury crimes.
But when every politician in Washington…rushes to stand in the same photo…you should ask what they’re all standing in FRONT of.
The Easy Target
Leon Black is the perfect villain.
He’s a billionaire. He wrote Epstein nine-figure checks. He fought the subpoenas. He’s not in anybody’s cabinet. He’s not on anybody’s ballot.
Going after him costs a Republican NOTHING.
And…it gives every one of them something precious heading into November:
A headline that says they got tough on Epstein.
That matters…because this investigation has been a political wound. It’s questioned at least 19 witnesses, and critics say it has failed to deliver the revelations people were promised.
Voters noticed. So now…a big, loud, unanimous vote against a billionaire.
Problem looks solved.
It isn’t.
Here’s What Nobody Is Saying Out Loud
The contempt referral now goes to the U.S. Attorney’s office for Washington, D.C.
That office is run by Jeanine Pirro.
Former Fox News host. Longtime Trump ally.
Her office says it will review the referral and won’t hesitate to pursue more Epstein-related cases.
Good. I hope that’s true.
But…understand what just happened.
Congress handed the next move to an office led by one of the President’s closest allies. Whether Black gets prosecuted…how fast…and how far any of it reaches…now sits with the administration.
Contempt referrals die quietly all the time.
So do investigations.
What to Watch
One. Does the Justice Department actually charge him? A vote is a press release. An indictment is a consequence.
Two. Is the standard applied to everyone? If defying a subpoena is serious enough to prosecute a billionaire…it’s serious enough to prosecute ANYONE who does it. Including people with friends in the White House.
Three. What happens to the NDAs? If Congress gets them, are they used to help survivors…or leaked selectively to damage the right people at the right moment?
Four. Where does the spotlight NOT go? This investigation is officially about how the government handled the Epstein case. Watch whether it keeps chasing private businessmen…while questions about federal decisions sit quietly in a drawer.
The Bottom Line
Leon Black may deserve every bit of this.
But a magician doesn’t show you the trick by hiding it.
He shows you the trick by pointing…loudly…at something else.
Wednesday’s vote was loud.
Keep your eyes on the other hand.
#HoldFast
Back soon.
-Jack
Jack Hopkins
P.S. Here’s the simplest test I know for any “tough on Epstein” moment. Ask: Who does this cost? If the answer is “nobody who’s in power,” you’re watching theater. Maybe good theater. Maybe even necessary theater. But theater.
P.P.S. Don’t let anybody turn this into “Democrats got played.” They didn’t. They voted for accountability and they should keep demanding it. The job now is to make sure a unanimous vote in September doesn’t become a quiet shrug in December. Call your representative. Ask one question: What happens next with the Black referral? Then ask again in 60 days.
Sources
CNBC: House votes to hold Leon Black in contempt of Congress over Epstein subpoenas defiance
MS NOW: House votes to hold investor Leon Black in contempt for defying Epstein-related subpoenas
NBC News: House panel votes to hold Epstein associate Leon Black in contempt
ABC News: House Oversight votes to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress
UPI: House committee votes to hold Epstein associate Leon Black in contempt
Jack, I’m telling you, no doubt we may have been able to muddle through this dark time without you; but with you shining a clear and unrelenting light on Truth, we are so much better off. Thank you!
You nailed it. Needed the headline to take back to the voters. I scoff in their general direction. #HoldingFast