Bill and Hillary Clinton Refuse to Testify in House Epstein Probe, Face Contempt Charge

Bill and Hillary Clinton are facing a possible contempt charge after announcing they will not comply with a subpoena delivered in August demanding their testimony in a House investigation into their past ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The subpoena, issued by the House Oversight Committee, seeks to compel the former president and former secretary of state to testify as part of a broader congressional inquiry into Epstein's network and relationships. In a letter addressing their refusal to comply with the subpoena, the Clintons accused Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, the Republican chairman of the committee, of pursuing the matter for political purposes rather than legitimate oversight. They described the demand as political targeting, writing: «There is no plausible explanation for what you are doing other than partisan politics.» The decision sets the stage for a potential escalation as the committee considers whether to move forward with contempt proceedings.

In the letter explaining their refusal to comply with the subpoena, the Clintons sharply criticized Representative James R. Comer, accusing him of abusing his authority as chairman of the House Oversight Committee and undermining the credibility of the Epstein investigation. They wrote: «As chairman of this powerful congressional comittee, you have immense power to target anyone and subject them to closed door interrogation and more. The decisions you have made, and the prioroties you have set as chairman regarding the Epstein investigation, have prevented progress in discovering the facts about the government's role.» They also pointed to what they described as selective enforcement, stating: «The facts speak for themselves: You subpoenaed eight people in addition to us. You dismissed seven of those eight without any of them saying a single word to you.» The letter further accused Comer of failing to seriously pursue witnesses, adding: «You made no attempt to force them to appear. In fact, since you started your investigation last year, you have interviewed a total of two people. Two.»

The Clintons go on to argue in the letter that Comer received «yesterday» a «legal analysis by two law firm» which, according to them, «makes clear your subpoenas are legally invalid». They further accuse the Oversight Committee chairman of applying a double standard, claiming he treated subpoenas differently when they involved Donald Trump compared with those directed at them. In the letter, they write: «You claim your subpoenas are inviolate when they are used against us yet were silent when the sitting President took the same position, as a former president, barely more than three years ago.» The Clintons also criticize Comer for failing to use his oversight authority to pressure federal authorities, adding: «All the while, you have done nothing with your oversight capacity to force the Department of Justice to follow the law and release all its Epstein files, including material regarding us as we have publicly called for.»

The Clintons conclude the letter by saying they expect escalation from the committee, writing that «you will direct your comittee to seek to hold us in contempt.» They add that they are «prepared to make our case» and ready to «defend ourselves in the public arena and ensure this country know exactly what you are doing and why you are doing so, instead of helping the American people.» The warning comes as Representative James R. Comer confirmed he will move forward with contempt of Congress proceedings against former President Bill Clinton next week, after the 42nd president failed to testify under subpoena on Tuesday. A similar step against Hillary Clinton is also expected, given that her appearance had been scheduled for the day following Bill Clinton's testimony, placing both former officials on a collision course with the House Oversight Committee.

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