House Oversight Committee Threatens Contempt Charges Against Clintons for Ignoring Epstein Subpoenas

By Michael Katz | Friday, 12 December 2025 07:53 PM EST

On Friday, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, warned that Bill and Hillary Clinton face charges of contempt of Congress if they ignore subpoenas and refuse to testify next week or in early January regarding their associations with Jeffrey Epstein.

The committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee approved a motion by voice vote in July to issue subpoenas to 10 individuals, including the former president and former secretary of state. The subpoenas sought testimony related to crimes committed by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Comer issued the subpoenas in August to compel testimony from the Clintons among others. Although the Clintons were initially set for depositions in October, Comer stated in November that after discussions with their attorney, David Kendall, the dates were rescheduled to December 17 for Bill Clinton and December 18 for Hillary Clinton.

In a statement released Friday, Comer emphasized: “It has been more than four months since Bill and Hillary Clinton were subpoenaed to sit for depositions related to our investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s horrific crimes. Throughout that time, the former President and former Secretary of State have delayed, obstructed, and largely ignored the Committee staff’s efforts to schedule their testimony.”

Comer warned: “If the Clintons fail to appear for their depositions next week or schedule a date for early January, the Oversight Committee will begin contempt of Congress proceedings to hold them accountable.”

The statement followed hours after Democrats on the committee released 19 photographs from Epstein’s estate. The images included President Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Britain’s Prince Andrew. These photos were part of more than 95,000 provided to the committee.

Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 while in federal custody awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Bill Clinton’s ties to Epstein, a wealthy financier, have been publicly known for years, including traveling on Epstein’s private plane after leaving office.

According to a spokesperson for the former president, Clinton cut ties with Epstein prior to his 2019 arrest and was unaware of Epstein’s alleged crimes. Those past associations are now under renewed scrutiny as Congress seeks release of Epstein-related investigative records and testimony from individuals with prior ties to Epstein.

The other individuals subpoenaed include former Attorneys General Merrick Garland, Bill Barr, Alberto Gonzales, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, and Eric Holder, as well as former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller. Sessions and Barr served as attorneys general during Trump’s first term.