The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted Wednesday to advance two resolutions holding former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas related to the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network and his ties to public officials.
The votes mark a major escalation in the House’s long-running probe into Epstein’s political connections and represent the first time Congress has moved toward contempt citations for a former president and former cabinet official simultaneously.
The Oversight Committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee had issued subpoenas on July 23, 2025, requiring both Clintons to testify about their past associations with Epstein. Lawmakers say the depositions were necessary to determine whether any federal agencies failed to pursue leads related to Epstein’s activities or his network of associates.
Bill Clinton was scheduled to appear on Jan. 13, followed by Hillary Clinton on Jan. 14, but both declined to attend. Their attorneys sent a letter to Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) calling the subpoenas “invalid” and “politically motivated,” arguing they lacked a legitimate legislative purpose.
In a joint public statement, the Clintons accused Republicans of “weaponizing Congress for political gain.”
“Despite everything that needs to be done to help our country, you are on the cusp of bringing Congress to a halt to pursue a rarely used process literally designed to result in our imprisonment,” the couple said. “This is not the way out of America’s ills, and we will forcefully defend ourselves.”
Republicans pushed forward anyway. The committee voted 34–8 to advance the contempt resolution against Bill Clinton, with nine Democrats joining Republicans and two members voting present.
A separate measure to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt passed 28–15, with three Democrats siding with Republicans.
Chairman Comer said the move was not political but a matter of principle. “The Committee does not take this action lightly,” Comer said in opening remarks.
“Subpoenas are not mere suggestions — they carry the force of law and require compliance. No witness, not a former president or a private citizen, may willfully defy a duly issued congressional subpoena without consequence. But that is what the Clintons did, and that is why we are here today.”
If adopted by the full House, the resolutions would direct the Speaker of the House to certify the contempt citations and refer them to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for prosecution under federal law. Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor carrying a potential sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.
The outcome drew bipartisan support, but unease from partisan Democrats. According to Politico, Democrats Maxwell Frost (FL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL), Summer Lee (PA), Emily Randall (WA), Lateefah Simon (CA), Melanie Stansbury (NM), Rashida Tlaib (MI), and Massachusetts Democrats Stephen Lynch and Ayanna Pressley all voted to hold Bill Clinton in contempt. Lee, Stansbury, and Tlaib also voted to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt, while Rep. Dave Min (CA) voted “present” on both resolutions.
In their written responses to the committee, the Clintons submitted sworn declarations attesting to their lack of knowledge regarding Epstein’s criminal activity or that of his associates.
Their legal team said they had “negotiated in good faith” for months to arrange alternative terms for an interview, and that Bill Clinton had even offered to meet privately with Comer and his staff.
Comer rejected the proposal, saying the Clintons were not entitled to special treatment.
“This is about equal justice under the law,” one senior GOP staffer said after the vote. “If Democrats were willing to jail Trump officials for ignoring subpoenas, they should be prepared to hold their own accountable when they do the same.”
