Politics

Clintons refuse House Oversight subpoenas in Epstein inquiry; Chairman threatens contempt vote

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Jan 13, 2026

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Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have refused to appear for scheduled depositions before the House Oversight Committee regarding its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. In response to their noncompliance, Committee Chairman James Comer announced that the panel intends to hold a vote next week to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress, with similar action expected regarding Hillary Clinton.

Bill Clinton was scheduled to appear for a closed-door deposition on Tuesday, followed by Hillary Clinton on Wednesday. However, attorneys for the couple informed the committee via letter that their clients would not comply. The legal team argued that the subpoenas were invalid, lacked a legitimate legislative purpose, and infringed on the separation of powers. The attorneys further asserted that the Clintons had already voluntarily provided the information they possess regarding the matter and characterized the investigation as a politically motivated attempt to embarrass rivals of Donald Trump.

Chairman Comer stated that while the committee is not accusing the former president of specific wrongdoing, members have questions requiring answers. He noted that the committee had attempted to negotiate dates for months and that the subpoenas were originally directed by a bipartisan vote. According to the committee, failure to appear triggers contempt proceedings, which require a committee vote and a subsequent vote by the full House of Representatives before a referral can be made to the Department of Justice. Criminal contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor that carries potential penalties including fines and jail time.

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• Noncompliance triggers contempt proceedings Chairman James Comer announced that because the witnesses failed to appear, the panel intends to move forward with contempt of Congress votes. The committee notes that criminal contempt is a misdemeanor offense that can result in penalties such as fines and jail time.

• Outstanding questions require answers Chairman Comer stated that although the committee is not accusing the former president of specific wrongdoing, members have questions that still require answers. He emphasized that the depositions are necessary to address these inquiries regarding the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

• Subpoenas followed months of negotiation attempts The Chairman noted that the committee had attempted to negotiate dates for the depositions for months before the refusal occurred. Additionally, the committee highlighted that the subpoenas were originally issued following a bipartisan vote.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• A potential legal conflict may arise defining the scope of congressional subpoena power and the separation of powers between the legislative branch and former executive officials.

• Legislative resources and time in the House may shift toward contempt proceedings next week, potentially affecting the scheduling of other legislative business or oversight activities.

• If the full House votes for contempt, the Department of Justice will receive a referral to determine whether to pursue misdemeanor criminal charges involving fines or jail time.

• The House Oversight Committee's ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein may face delays or require alternative methods to gather information following the refusal of key witnesses to appear.

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