WASHINGTON DC (LOOTPRESS) — Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton refused to appear before the House Oversight Committee this week as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, setting up a looming showdown with the Republican-led panel.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said the committee plans to move forward next week with a vote to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress. Similar action is expected for Hillary Clinton. If approved by the committee, the matter would go to the full House, which could then refer it to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.
The committee subpoenaed both Clintons in August, requesting closed-door testimony. Bill Clinton was scheduled to appear Tuesday and Hillary Clinton on Wednesday. Neither showed.
In an eight-page letter sent to Comer, the Clintons’ attorneys said the couple would not comply, arguing the subpoenas are “invalid and legally unenforceable” and lack a legitimate legislative purpose. The lawyers said the Clintons have already voluntarily shared all the limited information they have about Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
“President and Secretary Clinton have already provided the limited information they possess,” the attorneys wrote, calling the subpoenas an unprecedented violation of separation of powers.
In a separate letter signed by both Clintons, they accused the committee of singling them out for political reasons. They pointed to subpoenas issued to several former attorneys general and FBI directors who were not compelled to testify, including Merrick Garland, Bill Barr, Eric Holder, James Comey, and Robert Mueller.
“We are confident that any reasonable person will see that what you are doing is trying to punish those you see as your enemies and protect those you think are your friends,” the Clintons wrote. “For us, now is that time” to push back.
Their legal team described the investigation as a political effort to embarrass President Donald Trump’s rivals. Trump has publicly urged the release of Epstein-related materials naming Democrats. Epstein records also reference Trump, though neither Trump nor Bill Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing.
“No one’s accusing Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing,” Comer said Tuesday after Clinton failed to appear. “We just have questions.”
The dispute has dragged on for months. The committee initially sought testimony in October, later rescheduling for December. Both Clintons declined the December dates, citing a funeral.
While former presidents have rarely been compelled to testify before Congress, some have voluntarily cooperated with investigations. The Clintons’ attorneys urged the committee to “de-escalate this dispute,” while Oversight Committee Democrats said they support continued efforts to gather relevant information through cooperation rather than confrontation.
