House Panel Advances Contempt Vote Against Clintons in Jeffrey Epstein Investigation

A House committee has taken a significant step toward holding Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress as part of its ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee voted to advance contempt resolutions against the former president and former secretary of state after both declined to comply with subpoenas seeking their testimony. The resolutions now move to the full House, where a vote would determine whether the matter is formally referred to the Department of Justice.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated support for the effort and committed to bringing the resolutions to the House floor. While some Democrats joined Republicans in voting to hold Bill Clinton in contempt, fewer supported the measure against Hillary Clinton, with some arguing she should have been allowed to submit written testimony or should not have been subpoenaed at all.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said the Clintons were legally required to appear for depositions and refused. Attorneys for Bill Clinton countered that they offered a limited interview with committee leadership, calling the contempt proceedings unnecessary and overly punitive. Comer rejected that proposal, saying the committee’s subpoenas require sworn, transcribed depositions.

The committee’s action escalates a broader dispute over testimony in the Epstein probe. A successful contempt vote by the full House would be largely symbolic but could also carry potential legal consequences if the Justice Department chooses to act.

Democrats on the panel raised concerns about the scope of the investigation, questioning why other figures connected to Epstein, including Ghislaine Maxwell, and the Justice Department itself have not faced similar pressure. Comer said Maxwell is expected to appear for a closed-door deposition in February and is likely to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights.

If approved by the full House, the contempt resolutions would formally refer the matter to the Justice Department for review.

Credit: CNN Newsource
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