The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has announced its intention to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against former President Bill Clinton and potentially former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This action follows their refusal to comply with committee subpoenas seeking testimony regarding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer stated that the Clintons are not accused of wrongdoing, but the committee seeks answers related to Bill Clinton's documented association with Epstein. The Clintons have countered that the subpoenas are legally invalid and represent an attempt at political embarrassment.
Committee's Decision to Pursue Contempt
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) publicly stated the committee's plan to begin contempt proceedings. The decision stems from the Clintons' non-compliance with subpoenas issued for depositions in the committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Bill Clinton did not appear for a scheduled deposition, and testimony was also sought from Hillary Clinton. Comer emphasized to reporters that the committee is not accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing but has "questions" regarding Bill Clinton's relationship with Epstein.
Clintons' Response to Subpoenas
In a letter to the committee, the Clintons asserted that the subpoenas are "legally invalid." They stated that they had already provided written information to the committee and characterized the committee's actions as an attempt to politically embarrass them. The Clintons' letter also indicated their belief that the impending process was "designed to result in our imprisonment."
Background on Jeffrey Epstein and the Investigation
Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. He subsequently died by suicide in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial. Justice Department files have included photographs of former President Bill Clinton traveling with Epstein. Bill Clinton has previously stated that he was unaware of Epstein's crimes and ended contact with him years prior. The House Oversight Committee's Republican members have stated their focus on Bill Clinton's association with Epstein, which spanned the 1990s and early 2000s, as part of their efforts to obtain a full accounting of Epstein's actions.
Legal and Congressional Context
Jonathan Shaub, a University of Kentucky Law professor specializing in the Constitution's separation of powers, described congressional subpoenas as an oversight tool. He noted a trend where their use has increasingly focused on political objectives rather than solely legislative information gathering. Shaub indicated that if a contempt resolution passes the House and is prosecuted by the Justice Department, it could lead to a significant legal dispute due to limited existing case law on congressional contempt, potentially affecting the authority of congressional oversight.
Contempt of Congress charges are a seldom-used mechanism. Precedents include Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, who received prison sentences for non-cooperation with the Jan. 6 investigation. Democrats on the Oversight Committee, who had approved the subpoenas as part of a broader list, have highlighted that most other individuals subpoenaed in the wider investigation have not been compelled to testify. While multiple former presidents have voluntarily testified before Congress, none have been compelled to do so. Chairman Comer has also stated that the committee would not seek to compel testimony from a sitting president, referencing President Donald Trump.
Related Developments
Separately, the Justice Department has not yet released millions of pages of Epstein-related files, missing a December deadline established by Congress. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the Oversight Committee's ranking member, questioned this delay in a social media post.