Bill and Hillary Clinton have told Congress they won’t show up to testify in the House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Now, Republicans who run the Oversight Committee say they’re ready to take action.
GOP Threatens Contempt of Congress
Committee chairman Rep. James Comer said both Clintons could be held in criminal contempt of Congress. A vote could happen next week. If it passes, the full House would decide whether to send the case to the Justice Department.
Lawyers Say Subpoenas Are Invalid
The committee had called Bill Clinton for Tuesday and Hillary Clinton for Wednesday. Their lawyers sent an eight-page letter saying they won’t appear for closed-door questioning.
They claim the Clintons already shared whatever limited information they had about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. They also argue the subpoenas aren’t legally valid and that the investigation is more political than legislative.
Clintons Call It Political Targeting
In another letter signed by both Clintons, they pointed out that other powerful figures — including former attorneys general and FBI directors — were subpoenaed but not forced to testify.
They say the move looks like an attempt to punish political enemies and protect allies. Their legal team even called it an effort to publicly embarrass rivals of former President Trump.
Trump, Epstein, and Old Connections
Last month, Trump asked the Justice Department to release Epstein-related files that name Democrats.
Bill Clinton has been photographed with Epstein and traveled with him years ago, but he has not been accused of any crime. Trump’s name also appears in some Epstein records, and he too has not been accused of wrongdoing.
“We Just Have Questions,” Says Comer
Comer says this is not about accusing Bill Clinton of crimes.
“No one’s accusing him of anything,” he said. “We just have questions.”
A Standoff Months in the Making
This fight has been going on for months. The committee first asked the Clintons to testify in October, then moved it to December. The Clintons declined those dates as well, citing a funeral.
Can Congress Force a Former President?
In the past, former presidents have rarely been forced to testify before Congress, though some have done so voluntarily.
Democrats on the committee say they still want cooperation, not a showdown. They say anyone with information about Epstein should be willing to talk, and the committee should keep working with Clinton’s team instead of escalating the fight.
