A Republican-led House committee has suggested holding former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress. This action comes after the Clintons refused to appear for depositions in a congressional investigation related to Jeffrey Epstein. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved separate contempt reports against Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton during a meeting held on Wednesday.
The committee voted on the reports, with a 34–8 decision for Bill Clinton and a 28–15 decision for Hillary Clinton. The reports propose that the House should direct Speaker Mike Johnson to take necessary actions to enforce the subpoenas, including potential prosecution by the US Attorney for the District of Columbia. Committee Chairman James Comer emphasized that subpoenas are legally binding and must be obeyed.
According to the committee, the Clintons declined proposed deposition dates in December, citing a funeral, and did not suggest alternative dates in January. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton mentioned on social media that both Clintons have been out of office for over a decade and had minimal contact with Epstein for more than 20 years. Despite efforts to resolve the situation, the Republicans rejected their proposals.
If the full House agrees to the contempt resolutions, the Justice Department will decide whether to pursue criminal charges. Notably, the Trump administration has shown a willingness to investigate prominent Democrats. Democrats on the panel criticized the move, labeling it as politically motivated. They expressed a desire for Bill Clinton to answer questions but advocated for continued negotiations for a recorded interview.
