1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to demand that Congress strictly enforce its subpoena power and close the legal loopholes that allow wealthy individuals to use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to shield human trafficking networks from public accountability. Congressional subpoenas are legal mandates, not optional requests. Jeffrey Epstein did not operate his trafficking network alone; he was funded, protected, and enabled by ultra-wealthy associates who used their fortunes to buy silence and evade law enforcement. Private equity billionaire Leon Black, who paid Epstein over $150 million, walked out of a voluntary interview with the House Oversight Committee in June after refusing to answer questions about NDAs. The committee then issued him two subpoenas: one for all NDAs he is party to, and one compelling a deposition. Black turned over a single NDA and offered one more, in exchange for a guarantee he would not be held in contempt. The committee rejected that offer. On September 3, rather than appear for his deposition, Black skipped it entirely and instead sued the House Oversight Committee, asking a federal court to block both subpoenas outright. The committee held the deposition anyway, with an empty chair for him. Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican, called Black’s move “unacceptable” and noted that of all the powerful billionaires and political figures the committee has brought in for interviews and depositions, Black is “the first time anyone’s filed suit.” Ranking Member Robert Garcia called the lawsuit “laughable” and said the process of holding Black in contempt “has to begin.” This is not a partisan complaint. It is the committee’s Republican chairman and its top Democrat, together, saying a witness has crossed a line neither side has seen crossed before. This is an explicit test of congressional authority. If an ultra-wealthy financier can skip a sworn deposition, sue Congress to make his subpoenas disappear, and still keep NDAs concealing potential trafficking evidence sealed, congressional oversight ceases to mean anything. I urge you to take three specific actions: 1. Vote to hold Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying both subpoenas: the one demanding his NDAs and the one compelling his deposition. 2. Introduce and pass federal legislation rendering non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements void and unenforceable when used to conceal criminal sexual misconduct, child exploitation, or human trafficking. 3. Co-sponsor the Epstein Files Transparency Act II (H.R. 9694 / S. 5005), which gives state prosecutors and survivors standing to force unredacted disclosures from the Department of Justice and gives survivors direct access to their own investigative files. A two-tiered justice system where billionaires can ignore federal subpoenas and sue Congress to protect their secrecy betrays survivors and undermines the rule of law. Enforce your subpoenas, and vote for contempt.