James Comer is Chairman of the House Oversight Committee. | https://oversight.house.gov/chairman-james-comer/
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has called for former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be held in contempt of Congress. The move comes after the Clintons refused to comply with bipartisan subpoenas issued as part of an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network.
Chairman Comer addressed the committee during a markup session, emphasizing the seriousness of the action. He stated, “The Committee does not take this action lightly. But subpoenas are not mere suggestions; they carry the force of law and require compliance.” Comer explained that both Bill and Hillary Clinton were legally required to appear for depositions but declined to do so.
Comer referenced comments from Democrat Ranking Member Garcia, quoting him: “Defying a congressional subpoena is highly illegal.” Garcia also said, “No one is above the law.”
According to Comer, six months ago both Republicans and Democrats on the House Oversight Committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee unanimously approved deposition subpoenas for the Clintons as part of their investigation into how federal authorities handled criminal cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. More than five months have passed since those subpoenas were issued.
Comer argued that testimony from the Clintons is critical for understanding Epstein’s network and how he sought influence to avoid scrutiny. He added that their testimony could help inform future legislative efforts aimed at combating human trafficking.
He noted that while other officials—such as former U.S. Attorneys General Holder, Lynch, Sessions, Garland, and former FBI Director Comey—were allowed to submit written statements because they did not recall relevant information or lacked personal ties to Epstein, this was not considered sufficient for the Clintons due to their documented relationships with Epstein and Maxwell.
Comer stated: “They had documented relationships with Epstein and Maxwell, evidenced by numerous photographs, flight-log records, wedding invitations, and other materials.” He emphasized that written statements would not be accepted from the Clintons because these did not address all questions posed by the committee.
He continued: “Federal courts have consistently held that witnesses may not ‘impose their own conditions upon the manner of congressional inquiry.’ Yet the Clintons attempted to do exactly that—submitting brief, bulleted written statements that are neither comprehensive nor responsive to the Committee’s many unanswered questions.”
Comer maintained that no witness should defy a congressional subpoena without consequence: “No witness—not a former President or a private citizen—may willfully defy a duly issued congressional subpoena without consequence.”
The chairman contrasted this situation with Attorney General Bondi's cooperation: "Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Justice are producing documents. While the pace is slower than any of us would prefer... much of the delay involves DOJ trying to take care to redact victims’ personal information." By contrast, he said "the Clintons have flatly refused to appear at all."
Concluding his remarks, Comer said: “Today, the Clintons must be held accountable for their actions. And Democrats must support these measures, or they will be exposed as hypocrites. We must do what is necessary to uphold Congress’s investigative authority... And we are doing so to demonstrate... justice is applied equally to everyone.”
