Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive for Donald Trump's inauguration as the next President of the United States in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2025. SHAWN THEW/POOL/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
(Washington DC) – Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have declined to comply with congressional subpoenas seeking their testimony in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, prompting Republican lawmakers to warn of potential contempt of Congress proceedings.
In a letter released publicly Tuesday, the Clintons argued that the subpoenas issued by the Republican-led committee are “legally invalid,” accusing Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., of advancing a process they said was “literally designed to result in our imprisonment.”
Comer said he plans to begin contempt of Congress proceedings next week after Bill Clinton failed to appear for a scheduled closed-door deposition at House offices on Tuesday.
“No one’s accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing. We just have questions,” Comer told reporters. “Anyone would admit they spent a lot of time together.”
Bill Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein, but his past association with the late financier has been well documented. Republicans have focused on that relationship as part of a broader effort to obtain testimony from individuals connected to Epstein as lawmakers push for a fuller accounting of his activities.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges and died by suicide in a New York jail while awaiting trial.
While multiple former presidents have voluntarily testified before Congress, none has been compelled to do so. The prospect of holding a former president in contempt would mark a rare and politically fraught escalation.
Comer also said the committee does not intend to pursue testimony from Donald Trump, noting that Congress cannot compel a sitting president to testify.
The standoff could escalate into a rare contempt of Congress vote, a multistep process that could ultimately land before the Justice Department.
