The US House of Representatives agreed on Tuesday to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying a legal summons from the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Black had business ties to Epstein, who was charged with sex trafficking in July 2019.

Black did not comply with a subpoena ordering him to appear before the committee earlier this month and share documents related to Epstein. The contempt measure passed by unanimous consent.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said after the vote: “No one is above the law. We will continue to seek transparency for the American people and justice for survivors.”

Lawyers for Black, in a statement shared with US media, called the House vote “an outrageous action that ignores the facts and the truth about Mr. Black.” They added: “The full House is holding him in contempt without any regard to the active litigation challenging the lawfulness of the Committee’s actions and the ethics complaint against Chairman Comer.” Black has separately sued over the summons.

The committee’s top Democrat, Congressman Robert Garcia, said the contempt vote was “an important step towards justice and accountability.” Garcia added: “We will continue to center the survivors in our fight to hold those responsible for these horrific crimes.”

The contempt referral stems from a standoff that began in June, when Black walked out of voluntary testimony before the committee after being asked about nondisclosure agreements he may have signed in connection with Epstein, lawmakers said at the time. Subpoenas issued after that walkout ordered Black to share the NDAs and give an on-camera deposition under oath.

In his earlier testimony, Black told lawmakers he had hired Epstein as a wealth management adviser and paid Epstein $158m (£118m) for what he described as legitimate reasons. Black has said he did not know about Epstein’s crimes until Epstein was charged with sex trafficking in July 2019, and he has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein.

Black stepped down from Apollo Global Management, the firm he co-founded, in 2021 amid scrutiny over his Epstein ties. The contempt vote now sends the matter to the Justice Department, which will determine whether to pursue criminal prosecution.