Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have declined to comply with subpoenas issued by the U.S. House of Representatives' Oversight Committee, which sought their testimony as part of an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. In response, Republican lawmakers announced plans to initiate contempt-of-Congress proceedings against Bill Clinton, with similar actions considered for Hillary Clinton if she does not answer committee questions.
Congressional Action and Committee Stance
The House Oversight Committee, led by Republican Representative James Comer, issued subpoenas for both Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify regarding their connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. Bill Clinton was scheduled to appear for a deposition on Tuesday but did not attend. Hillary Clinton was scheduled for Wednesday.
Chairman Comer announced that contempt proceedings against Bill Clinton would commence the following week. He stated that the committee is not accusing the Clintons of wrongdoing but is seeking answers regarding Bill Clinton's documented association with Epstein. Comer noted that the subpoena itself was approved by the committee in a bipartisan manner.
Historically, several former presidents have testified voluntarily before Congress, though none have been compelled to do so. Representative Comer indicated the committee would not seek to compel testimony from former President Donald Trump, citing that a sitting president cannot be forced to testify.
Clintons' Refusal and Legal Arguments
Lawyers representing the Clintons characterized the subpoenas as "unenforceable," "legally invalid," and an "unprecedented infringement on the separation of powers." They argued that the subpoenas lacked a valid legislative purpose and sought no pertinent information, further describing them as a "ploy to attempt to embarrass political rivals," which they alleged was directed by former President Trump.
Hillary Clinton reiterated her position on the social media platform X, stating that the subpoenas were "legally invalid" and suggesting the process, overseen by Representative Comer, "could be literally designed to result in our imprisonment."
Background and Context
Bill Clinton's association with Jeffrey Epstein was documented during the late 1990s and early 2000s, prior to Epstein's 2008 conviction for solicitation of prostitution. Bill Clinton has denied knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities, and survivors of Epstein's abuse have not made accusations against him. The committee's stated purpose for the subpoenas was to gather information related to this association.
Broader Criticisms of the Inquiry
In addition to their legal arguments, the Clintons issued a separate statement criticizing Chairman Comer's management of the inquiry. They alleged that the committee's approach hindered factual discovery, noting that only two individuals (former Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta and former Attorney General William Barr) had been interviewed despite subpoenas being issued to seven other former top government officials. The Clintons also criticized Republican support for former President Trump's agenda, including immigration enforcement policies and the pardoning of individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol incident.
Epstein Files Release
The broader controversy surrounding the government's handling of the Epstein case intensified in July following a Justice Department memo declaring the matter closed. In November, bipartisan legislation mandated the release of all government files related to Epstein. The Justice Department began releasing documents in December, some of which were redacted and included photographs of Bill Clinton. Lawmakers recently requested a federal judge to appoint a special master to ensure the full release of all remaining documents, as an initial deadline of December 19 was not met.