Former President Bill Clinton failed to show up Tuesday for a closed-door deposition before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee in Washington. The session was part of an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's ties to powerful figures and how the federal government handled cases involving the late financier and convicted sex offender. Clinton's lawyers called the subpoena invalid, saying it lacked a proper legislative purpose. Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, said the panel will vote next week to hold Clinton in contempt of Congress.
Background
Jeffrey Epstein faced federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy in 2019. He died by suicide in a New York jail cell before his trial. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was later convicted on related charges. The House Oversight Committee launched its probe to examine the Justice Department's role in Epstein investigations and document releases.
Lawmakers passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act last year. It requires the government to share records. Republicans on the committee have pushed for more openness, including calls for an independent monitor to oversee disclosures. They point to delays by the Justice Department in turning over tens of thousands of pages already released.
Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's private plane several times in the early 2000s. He has said those trips ended two decades ago and expressed regret for the association. Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, has no recorded trips on the plane or visits to Epstein's island, according to her legal team. The committee subpoenaed both in August for depositions originally set for October. Dates shifted to this week after back-and-forth letters.
Democrats and the Clintons argue the probe singles them out unfairly. They note the committee excused five former attorneys general with written statements after those officials said they had no relevant knowledge. Trump's lawyers used similar arguments last year, and the committee dropped its subpoena for the then-president.
Key Details
The subpoena for Bill Clinton passed with a unanimous committee vote, including bipartisan support. Comer stressed this point to reporters outside the empty hearing room Tuesday morning. He said the panel gave Clinton's team months to schedule, but they kept delaying.
"We've communicated with President Clinton's legal team for months now, giving them opportunity after opportunity to come in, to give us a day, and they continue to delay, delay, delay to the point where we had no idea whether they were going to show up today or not. I think it's very disappointing."
— House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer
Clinton's attorney, David Kendall, sent a letter Monday calling the subpoenas unenforceable. He described the process as a ploy to embarrass political opponents. The letter urged the committee to de-escalate and accept written responses, as the Clintons have already provided limited information.
Contempt Process Ahead
Next week, the committee plans a markup session on a contempt resolution against Clinton. With a GOP majority, passage seems likely. The full House could then vote. If approved, it leads to a referral to the Justice Department for possible prosecution. Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Hillary Clinton's deposition is set for Wednesday. Her team has not said if she will appear. The Clintons' letter released on social media Tuesday called the probe legally invalid. They accused Comer of blocking real progress on government failures in Epstein's case and ignoring Justice Department compliance issues.
"We have tried to give you the little information that we have. We've done so because Mr. Epstein’s crimes were horrific. If the Government didn’t do all it could to investigate and prosecute these crimes, for whatever reason, that should be the focus of your work — to learn why and to prevent that from happening ever again."
— Excerpt from letter by Clintons' attorneys
Comer rejected claims of limited knowledge. He wrote in October that the committee decides the value of testimony, not witnesses. In-person depositions allow better assessment, he said.
What This Means
This standoff tests Congress's power to force testimony from former high officials. Past cases show enforcement is rare and often political. The Justice Department, now under a different administration, would handle any prosecution. That step has not happened in similar disputes for years.
The probe continues amid public pressure for full Epstein files. Lawmakers from both parties want unredacted records. Recent releases include photos from Epstein's estate showing figures like Trump and Clinton, though no new accusations arose. Republicans say delays hide government shortcomings. Democrats call the focus on Clintons a distraction.
Comer told reporters no one accuses the Clintons of wrongdoing. The questions center on their past contacts with Epstein and Maxwell. Trump, also a past Epstein associate, faces no subpoena as a sitting president. His team cited precedents shielding ex-presidents, but Comer said current status changes that.
The clash highlights divides over Epstein's network. It reaches business leaders, celebrities, and politicians across parties. Committee members push for answers on why early probes faltered. They question federal agencies' handling from Florida cases in the 2000s to New York's 2019 arrest.
Public interest remains high. Epstein's death fueled theories, though official reports confirm suicide. Maxwell's trial revealed victim accounts spanning years. The Oversight Committee's work aims to prevent repeats by exposing systemic issues.
As proceedings move forward, eyes stay on Hillary Clinton's scheduled appearance. Contempt votes could escalate tensions between Congress and former leaders. The full picture of Epstein's influence waits on more disclosures and any testimony provided.
