House Panel Votes to Hold Clintons in Contempt Over Epstein Probe

The House Oversight Committee voted on Wednesday to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress. The decision came after both skipped depositions tied to an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019. Republicans led the effort, but several Democrats joined them in the vote.

Background

Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee started looking into Epstein's case last year. They wanted to know more about how federal agencies handled his crimes and those of Ghislaine Maxwell, his associate convicted of sex trafficking. On July 23, 2025, the committee's Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee approved subpoenas for ten people, including the Clintons. The full committee backed the move unanimously on August 5, 2025.

Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's plane several times in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation work. This was before Epstein faced sex crime charges. Hillary Clinton knew Maxwell from her time as secretary of state and had some awareness of government efforts against international sex trafficking rings. The committee subpoenaed them to get sworn testimony on these ties.

Depositions were first set for October 2025. Bill Clinton's was October 14, and Hillary's was October 9. Both asked for delays, saying they had funerals to attend. The committee moved Bill's to December 17 and Hillary's to December 18. They did not show up then either. Lawmakers offered to reschedule into January if the Clintons picked firm dates. They did not respond with dates.

New subpoenas went out. Bill Clinton was told to appear January 13, 2026. Hillary Clinton was set for January 14. Neither came. Talks broke down last week. The Clintons' team proposed Bill testify in New York with just the committee chair and ranking member present, no full committee, no transcript, and limited staff. Chairman James Comer rejected that.

Key Details

The committee voted 34-8 to hold Bill Clinton in contempt. Nine Democrats joined all Republicans in favor. Two Democrats voted present. For Hillary Clinton, the vote was 28-15. Three Democrats voted yes, and one voted present. The votes advanced resolutions to the full House.

Vote Breakdown

Democrats who supported the Bill Clinton contempt vote included Reps. Maxwell Frost of Florida, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Emily Randall of Washington, Lateefah Simon of California, Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. Yassamin Ansari of Washington and Dave Min of California voted present.

For Hillary Clinton, Lee, Stansbury, and Tlaib voted yes. Min voted present.

Contempt of Congress is rare. It can mean up to one year in jail and a $100,000 fine. Past cases include Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, who served time for defying a Democratic-led committee on January 6. Attorney General Merrick Garland was held in contempt in 2024 over documents but not prosecuted by the Biden Justice Department.

Comer said the Clintons defied bipartisan subpoenas issued five months ago. He stressed no one is above the law.

“The Clintons’ latest demands make clear they believe their last name entitles them to special treatment. The House Oversight Committee’s bipartisan subpoenas require the Clintons to appear for depositions that are under oath and transcribed.” – Chairman James Comer

Angel Urena, Bill Clinton's former deputy chief of staff, pushed back on social media. He said claims of refusing a transcript were off base.

Democrats on the committee called the votes partisan. They noted Republicans defended others in past probes. Rep. Emily Randall said Comer picks and chooses who to chase.

The probe also subpoenaed former FBI Director James Comey and others. In December, the Justice Department released Epstein files with photos of Bill Clinton. Both Clintons deny wrongdoing.

What This Means

The full House must vote on the resolutions. A simple majority sends them to the Justice Department. Prosecutors there decide on charges. With Republicans in control, passage looks likely.

If charged, the Clintons could face trial. Penalties might stay symbolic, like in some past cases, or lead to real punishment. This adds to long-running questions about Epstein's network and powerful people linked to him.

The vote shows rare bipartisan agreement on accountability. Nine Democrats backing Bill Clinton's contempt signals some see subpoena defiance as a problem, no matter the person. It also highlights divides. Democrats rejected their own push to hold a Trump attorney in contempt over delaying Epstein documents.

Epstein's case keeps drawing attention. New files and testimony could reveal more on flights, meetings, and government handling. For the Clintons, this means more scrutiny on old ties. Bill Clinton has said he regrets the flights but knew nothing of crimes. Hillary Clinton's role ties to her State Department days.

House leaders urge quick action. Comer wants the full chamber to vote soon. If approved, it tests how far Congress pushes enforcement under the current administration. Past DOJ choices not to prosecute show outcomes vary by politics and proof.

Lawmakers say the goal is facts on Epstein. Transcripts from others, like former Attorney General Bill Barr and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, already shed light. The Clintons' no-shows block full answers. The House vote could force their input or set a precedent on subpoenas.