Epstein Survivors Praise House Panel After Leon Black Contempt Vote (9/21/26)

0:00What's up everyone and welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. Now that Congress has held Leon Black in contempt for his nonsense when it comes to Epstein and refusing to hand over the documents that they requested, Epstein's survivors are coming out and praising Congress for their work. And that's certainly a change from what we're used to hearing. And I'll get on board with that. As much as I've been critical of Congress and their work, this is a good job. This is what they should be doing. And it shouldn't just be Leon Black that's held accountable by the way. Because just about every single person that's gotten up there and talked to that committee has told them lies. So I would like to see more accountability and I'd like to see more of those stories tested rigorously against the truth. And that's what Congress should be doing. And considering they're not doing it with the vast majority of these people, that's why I'm so critical. But when someone does something good, we have to offer them praise as well. And I think this is something that we should be offering

1:04Congress praise for. Especially considering that it went to the full vote and it was uncontested. So the whole entire House decided that this is not a fight they want to have. And instead, they decided to refer Leon Black to the Justice Department. So today we have an article from the Guardian and the headline Epstein Survivors Praise House panel over Leon Black contempt vote. This article was authored by Anna Betz. More than a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse praise the House Oversight Committee for unanimously voting to recommend that billionaire investor Leon Black be held in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas by the panel seeking his testimony and on disclosure agreements as part of its investigation in the Epstein. And look, everybody wants this to be so political and unfortunately, the nature of it is. But that doesn't mean we have to pick sides. Can we just look at this neutral and say, hey, look, this side's being shitty or that side's being shitty and they have to be called out.

2:08Why do we have to retreat into bunkers for every single topic? Now look, I understand certain issues, right? I'm not naive. You want to talk about abortion, this, that the other thing. Cool, I get it. People are going to retreat into bunkers. But this issue, how the fuck are we not coming together as one to make sure people like Leon Black are held accountable for whatever he's up to? And I don't just mean the allegations about abuse, but what about everything else? If you and I have to spend every day worried about the government coming after us if we don't do what they tell us to do, why should Leon Black be able to do whatever he wants to do? Because he has more money than me? Well, fuck that, fuck them, and fuck anybody who believes that. Because at this point, it's the people versus the predators. And when I say predators, I mean predators. We commend Chairman Comer for showing real resolve and pursuing accountability in the Epstein investigation. The survivor said in a statement, they said that the 41-0 vote sends a clearer message

3:09that wealth and influence do not put anyone beyond the reach of congressional oversight. Well, I wish that was really true, right? I wish that Congress would do more. But this is certainly a step in the right direction. So I'm not going to reign on the parade. I think that we need to continue doing things like this. And I think more people need to be referred to the DOJ. And I think one of those people for sure, or two of those people, are in-dike in con. Without a doubt. And also, how come we haven't heard from Nadia Marcincova or Adriana Ross? Probably a decent idea to get them up onto the old chair and have a conversation with them? You would think they know a little bit about what went on? How about Bella Klein? How about Harry Beller? Survivors have fought for years to bring the truth about Epstein's network into the open and have helped create this moment of accountability they added. Congress now has an opportunity to build on that work by following the investigative leads

4:14contained in the Epstein files wherever they go and demanding answers from the powerful people connected to them. That is like the basic floor level amount of work that should be done. But it's never really been done and that's my biggest problem. If this was a robust investigation from the jump and we had the documentation backing that up, I wouldn't have even half as much to say. But all the people that were involved, all the people that were accused, none of them were even talked to. So you have the FBI in the DOJ just going after Epstein and Maxwell? When they know that there's all these other threads, ask yourself why? And if you're somebody that wants to look for a cover-up or a conspiracy, this is it. You don't need Egyptian planes, you don't need Sasquatches, you don't need the flat earth. What you need is to take a look at the Epstein files. The vote on Tuesday marked the latest escalation in the dispute between the Committee and Black,

5:15whose name came up repeatedly in the Epstein files and who, as reported by the New York Times, paid Epstein a total of 170 million for what he described as tax-estate planning services from 2013 to 2017. The contempt resolution now goes to the Full House for consideration if Speaker Mike Johnson permits a vote and we know that it passed, okay? The Full House, every single member voted for it. Black has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said he had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. Sure, sure, sure, no problem, we believe you. You had no idea, Mr. Leon Black. No clue what your buddy Epstein was up to. After he was already a sexual offender. Okay, sure. He voluntarily appeared before the Committee for a transcribed interview in June, but the session ended abruptly after lawmakers from both parties said that Black refused to answer questions about the NDAs. The Committee, chaired by a Republican representative James Palmer,

6:19then issued to subpoenas, one demanding that Black produce all NDAs to which he is a party and another requiring him to appear before the Committee again for a deposition. Well, how that work out. Leon Black did what Leon Black always does and that is whatever he wants. And when you have that kind of money, you can go and buy billions of dollars of artwork. You really think you care what the Senate has to say to you? This mantle dragged this shit out. Until the cows come home. Now I really hope that Congress is ready to get into the backyard and brawl with his dude like Kimbo slice. No half stepping, no half measures, full on warfare, the full power of the United States government. That's what I want to see used against Leon Black, just like they do against drug dealers or people they say are engaging in, you know, illegal gambling because I've seen that firsthand. And they have no remorse, they have no shame,

7:20and they will ruin your life. But Leon Black, I guess, different story. Maybe my loved one should have been able to afford Susan Estrich as an attorney. Black did not appear for his scheduled September 3rd deposition and did not produce all of the NDAs sought by the Committee. He instead sued Comer and the Committee, arguing that the subpoenas were invalid and exceeded the Committee's delegated authority in seeking private information that pairs no legitimate connection to its legislative purpose. In other words, go get fucked. And that's what that means, okay, translation, that's what that means. He also argued that the subpoenas would expose women who value their privacy, who have no known or public connection to Epstein. Oh, these women, man, you know, he's really protecting them. As I said in a previous episode, a real champion of the women. Who the fuck is believe in that, shit? Leon Black, this dude's out here cheating on his wife while she's sick right across the street. Hello, the guy that Leon Black, a real feminist. Attorney's representing Black had asked

8:23for a post-ponement of the Committee's markup earlier on Tuesday and described it as a complete abomination. No, that's your client's behavior. That's a complete abomination, okay? And not just his behavior with Epstein, but in general, Apollo Global, one of the worst fucking companies in the history of the world. What they did to Caesar's palace is absolutely disgusting. And now they got their dirty ass hands all over the Venetian, sand's corporation. And I haven't stepped one foot inside of that place since Apollo took over. And I have no plans on going back. I won't spend any of my money with Apollo Global. I don't just talk the talk. I walk the walk. And if you think I'm giving any money to these people, you got another thing coming. The lawyers also described the subpoenas as illegitimate, illegal, and a textbook abusive power designed to bully and destroy legal protections of private citizens. And reiterated that Black never abused a woman, was never blackmailed by Epstein, and had no knowledge of any of Epstein's

9:28hand is conduct. On Wednesday, a day after the vote, Comer announced the introduction of the Survivor's Voice Protection Act, legislation, as office said, would ensure survivors can speak freely about sexual abuse, even if they signed a non-disclosure agreement. And again, good on James Comer. As much as I break his chops, this is a good move. And it's a move in the right direction. And I think that everybody should back it. The legislation is a result of the oversight committee's review of the federal investigation into Epstein and Maxwell's crimes. He is office-added. In a statement on Wednesday, Comer said, the federal government for decades fell the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Glein Maxwell's crimes. We sadly cannot undo the harm and abuse inflicted upon these women. However, we have an obligation to take action, to reform our laws, to ensure survivors are protected, and abusers can be held accountable. Better late than never. Better late than never. And I think it's time that we really

10:34have something like this on the books. Republican representatives Nancy Mace, Virginia Fox, Lauren Bobert, and Anna Paulina Luna joined the bill as original co-sponsors. The committee says it's conducted 19 depositions and transcribed interviews thus far as part of its review of the federal government's investigation of Epstein and Maxwell, and that it has released around 65,000 pages of documents from the Epstein estate, US Department of Justice, and interview transcripts, and also obtained Epstein's bank records. Well, can we follow the money to the destination, please? You mean to tell me there was no financial malfeasance? Give me a break already. Additionally in June, Comer referred to men to the Department of Justice for further investigation after Sarah Kellin, a former assistant of Epstein's, and co-conspirator by the way, alleged that she was sexually assaulted by them in the years that she worked for Epstein. Neither men have been charged with a crime related to Epstein, and both have denied any wrongdoing and the allegations

11:39against them. Oh, they should be charged. Let's see that robust investigation I was talking about, and let's get cracking. Over the summer, the Guardian asked the DOJ for an update on this, to which a DOJ spokesperson told the Guardian that they had forwarded the letter from Comer about the two individuals to the FBI. If, during the course of their review, FBI encounters of evidence of a federal crime, they will investigate that matter, a DOJ spokesperson told the Guardian in July. When asked for an update in late August, the DOJ spokesperson said the July statement still stands. The FBI did not respond the multiple requests for comment from the Guardian this month about the matter, and if it's an open investigation, they're not going to. But I just have my doubts that they're doing the right thing, and that's because their behavior tells us they don't care. So there has to be some kind of checks and balances here, and maybe Congress can ask for an update about what's going on with their referrals, because you know the DOJ and the FBI, they're not

12:43going to give it up willingly, so it's going to be a battle, and hopefully Congress is up for it. As for us, well, we're going to continue swimming through this muck looking for the clarity, and when we have something else to add to this story, we'll get that added to the catalog as well. All the information that goes with this episode can be found in the description box.