Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have formally refused to comply with House subpoenas tied to the long-running investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, setting the stage for a potential contempt battle with a Republican-led Congress.
The standoff sharpened Tuesday when Bill Clinton failed to appear for a scheduled closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee. Committee Chairman James Comer immediately warned of contempt proceedings, escalating a dispute that has simmered for months.
In a joint letter delivered this week, the Clintons rejected the subpoenas as legally defective and politically motivated, accusing the committee of using the Epstein inquiry as a partisan weapon. "For us, now is that time," the letter stated, adding that the effort was "literally designed to result in our imprisonment."
The Oversight Committee has sought testimony about the Clintons' historical interactions with Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Bill Clinton has previously acknowledged flying on Epstein's private jet for foundation-related travel but has denied knowledge of Epstein's criminal conduct.
The dispute intensified after the U.S. Department of Justice released hundreds of thousands of pages of records late last year. Among them were photographs showing Bill Clinton in informal settings with Maxwell, including one described in congressional materials as depicting the former president in a jacuzzi.
In their 1,200-word response, the Clintons argued they had already provided all relevant information and accused the committee of selective enforcement. "There is no plausible explanation for what you are doing other than partisan politics," they wrote.
Their attorney, David Kendall, contended that the inquiry had been "weaponised," noting that of nine individuals initially subpoenaed, seven were released without testifying. The letter emphasized that only two witnesses have been interviewed since the investigation began last year.
Chairman Comer and his allies counter that the committee is pursuing accountability in a case that has exposed how Epstein operated among political, financial and social elites for years. They argue sworn testimony is essential to determining whether powerful figures received preferential treatment or failed to act on warning signs.
A contempt referral would raise the legal stakes considerably. Criminal contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor that can carry fines of up to $100,000 and potential jail time of up to one year, though enforcement often becomes mired in protracted court fights.
The clash unfolds as the committee awaits Hillary Clinton's scheduled deposition date later this week. If she also declines to appear, the dispute could broaden into a test of congressional oversight authority, with the Clintons challenging the legitimacy of subpoenas and House Republicans pressing for compliance.
