The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform plans to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton. This action follows both Clintons’ failure to appear for scheduled depositions related to the investigation into crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) announced the move after Hillary Clinton did not attend her deposition, which had been set following several scheduling changes. The committee had previously issued subpoenas approved unanimously by Republicans and Democrats.
“We’re going to hold both Clintons in criminal contempt of Congress. We believe that, because this subpoena was issued in a bipartisan fashion. The Democrats acted the day that the subpoenas were voted on in the Subcommittee like they wanted the Clintons to come,” said Comer.
He continued, “We subpoenaed the [Epstein] estate and got all the documents. Everything. That was what the victims asked. That’s what the Democrats asked. I think that’s what the American people wanted. We subpoenaed the estate, got 100 percent of the documents.”
Comer added, “I have subpoenaed the Department of Justice and Pam Bondi for the documents, which they are producing.”
He also noted, “Bill Barr, Alex Acosta, came in and were deposed because of our lawful subpoena. This same lawful subpoena was issued to the Clintons, and they defied it.”
Addressing public perception, Comer stated: “And you know, Bill Clinton is trying to play the victim card here. Only Bill Clinton could try to triangulate something that’s happened—a terrible, a terrible atrocity—to these survivors who have had to endure who knows what from Epstein and [Ghislaine] Maxwell.”
“So we’re trying to get answers to American people. We’re serious about it,” he said.
Comer pointed out that Democratic members did not attend either deposition: “Once again, not a single Democrat showed up. You know how many depositions we’ve done? There’s always a Democrat here. The former president of the United States, former Secretary of State—neither one of them. [There is] not a single Democrat here.”
He questioned his colleagues’ support: “So I think the questions that should be asked to the Democrats on the Committee are, ‘Do you still support hearing from the Clintons?’ Because, you know, some have asked, ‘What’s Hillary got to do anything?’”
Comer referenced claims regarding connections between Jeffrey Epstein and fundraising for The Clinton Foundation: “Well, Jeffrey Epstein claimed—and I don’t know if this is true or not—because I think a lot of what Jeffrey Epstein said was just not true, but he said that he helped set up the Clinton Foundation, that there are records that would imply that Epstein helped raise money for the Clinton Foundation.”
According to committee records, on July 23, 2025, both parties on the Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee agreed by voice vote to issue subpoenas for testimony from ten individuals—including Bill and Hillary Clinton—in relation to crimes committed by Epstein and Maxwell.
Bill Clinton’s deposition was first requested for October 14, 2025; it was then rescheduled for December 17 due to his attendance at a funeral. After declining those dates without offering alternatives in January as requested by committee staffers—and failing again after being re-subpoenaed with a new date—he did not appear at his scheduled January 13 deposition.
Hillary Clinton’s deposition followed a similar timeline: originally scheduled for October 9 before being moved due to funeral attendance conflicts; she also declined requests for alternate January dates before missing her rescheduled January 14 appearance.
Further details about these developments can be found in official statements from Chairman Comer regarding the committee's intent toward contempt proceedings against Bill Clinton.
