Congress is going to war with Jeffrey Epstein patron Leon Black over NDAs, tell me about this news in (https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-leon-black-comer-bill-ndas-victims-sexual-abuse-2026-9)

The dispute between Congress and billionaire Leon Black centers on congressional investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and a newly introduced legislative effort to void secrecy clauses for abuse victims.

The Background and Subpoenas

The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Representative James Comer, has been investigating Jeffrey Epstein, his associates, and the federal handling of his sex-trafficking cases. Leon Blackthe private equity billionaire and former CEO of Apollo Global Managementpaid Epstein well over $100 million for what he has described as professional tax, financial, and estate planning services.

During an interview earlier this year, committee members questioned Black regarding NDAs involving women and whether Epstein was connected to facilitating, writing, or funding those settlements. After Black refused to answer questions about the agreements, Comer issued subpoenas compelling him to:

1. Turn over copies of NDAs to which he is a party.

2. Appear before lawmakers for a formal deposition.

The Contempt Vote and Legal Battle

Black resisted full compliance, providing only one agreement and failing to attend his scheduled deposition on September 3. Instead, his legal team sued Comer and the committee, arguing that the subpoenas lacked a legitimate legislative purpose, exceeded congressional authority, and threatened the privacy of women who wished to remain confidential. Black and his attorneys maintain that he never committed abuse, was never blackmailed by Epstein, and was unaware of Epstein’s illegal actions.

In response, the House Oversight Committee voted unanimously (41-0) to recommend holding Black in contempt of Congress for defying the subpoenas, escalating the confrontation toward potential criminal referral.

The Legislative Response: The Survivor’s Voice Protection Act

Directly in connection with the standoff over Black’s NDAs, James Comer introduced the Survivor’s Voice Protection Act. The key provisions of the bill include:

• Voiding Non-Disclosure Clauses: It would render NDAs legally unenforceable if they prevent victims of sexual abuse, or third parties with knowledge of the conduct, from speaking publicly about their experiences.

• Mandatory Grooming Reporting: It introduces a legal duty requiring trusted individuals and fiduciaries to report suspected sexual grooming of minors to law enforcement.

Lawmakers argue that the bill directly targets the practice of using substantial financial resources and legal gag orders to shield predatory conduct from public and law enforcement scrutiny.