The House Oversight Committee has voted to recommend holding former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Republicans argue the Clintons obstructed the probe, while Democrats call it partisan politics. The matter now heads to the full House for approval.
On Wednesday, the Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted to hold Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in criminal contempt of Congress. The decision stems from the couple's refusal to appear for scheduled closed-door depositions as part of the panel's probe into the government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Subpoenas were issued after photos surfaced of former President Clinton on Epstein's private island, according to reports.
Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., defended the action, stating, "This Committee has acted in good faith. We've offered flexibility on scheduling. The response we received was not cooperation, but defiance, marked by repeated delays, excuses and obstruction." He emphasized that no one is above the law and noted five months of negotiations, rejecting the Clintons' proposal for a New York meeting without a transcript or other members present.
In a January 13 letter, the Clintons described the subpoenas as "legally invalid" and said they had shared the "little information" they possess, adding, "We’ve done so because Mr. Epstein’s crimes were horrific," and that the effort appeared driven by "partisan politics."
Democrats, led by ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., decried the vote as political score-settling. Garcia argued the Clintons had offered alternatives, including testimony with a transcript, and urged negotiation. He noted that former attorneys general like Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch submitted written testimony without facing contempt. Democrats also pushed amendments to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi accountable for her subpoena non-compliance, but these failed. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., said, "If this committee wants to be taken seriously, we would be addressing all the bad actors in this investigation, not cherry-picking them for political points."
The vote passed 34-8 for Bill Clinton, with two members voting present and nine Democrats joining Republicans. For Hillary Clinton, three Democrats voted in favor. The recommendation now goes to the full House; if approved, it would refer to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.
This follows the November passage of the "Epstein Files Transparency Act," signed by President Donald Trump, which Democrats say has been released too slowly. Upcoming events include a virtual interview with Ghislaine Maxwell on February 9 and Bondi's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee next month.
