Billionaire Leon Black sued a congressional committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, challenging two subpoenas issued in June. Black's lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, claims the subpoenas were "invalid" and that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform exceeded its authority by demanding records related to nondisclosure agreements he may have signed with unnamed women. The committee believes some women may have been linked to Epstein and sought the documents and testimony under oath.

This is the first time someone called to testify in the Epstein probe has gone to federal court to challenge the committee's authority. Committee Chair James R. Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said he would hold Black in contempt if necessary but needed to consult with members and lawyers first.

Democrat Robert Garcia of California called the lawsuit "laughable" and accused Black of trying to delay the investigation. Black paid Epstein $170 million for tax and estate planning services from 2013 to 2017 and lent him $30 million. Black claims he knew nothing about Epstein's abuse of women.

His attorney, Susan Estrich, called the committee's probe a "fishing expedition" aimed at destroying him.