Republican Representative James Comer, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, initiated the subpoenas following what he termed a refusal by Black to address specific inquiries about his professional dealings with Epstein. The committee now mandates that Black return on July 16 to provide testimony under oath. While Black voluntarily sat for an interview on Friday, he maintained that his $158 million in payments to Epstein were strictly for tax and estate planning services. He denied allegations of involvement in sex trafficking or blackmail, stating he severed ties in 2018 upon learning of the financier's broader professional instability.

Susan Estrich, legal counsel for Black, characterized the committee's action as a political stunt, arguing that the subpoenas were issued before investigators even reached the topic of his financial transactions. Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking Democrat, countered that the panel requires access to non-disclosure agreements allegedly facilitated by Black to secure accountability for survivors. This investigation builds on previous scrutiny of Black, who resigned from Apollo Global Management in 2021 after internal reviews highlighted his substantial payments to Epstein. Black has faced several civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, all of which he has denied, and he has not been charged with any crime.