House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer on Friday sharply escalated his standoff with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, warning that the committee will move forward with contempt of Congress proceedings if the pair continue to refuse to testify in the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network.
In a statement, Comer said the Clintons have spent months delaying and obstructing the committee’s efforts despite being formally subpoenaed earlier this summer as part of a bipartisan probe into the late sex trafficker and those in his orbit.
“It has been more than four months since Bill and Hillary Clinton were subpoenaed to sit for depositions,” Comer said. “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 noted that the committee has now set firm deposition dates for the Clintons on December 17 and 18. He warned that if they fail to appear or at least agree to testify in early January, the committee will initiate contempt proceedings. “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,” Comer said.
The warning comes as the committee continues to release new materials tied to Epstein, adding pressure on high-profile figures who had contact with him. Among the newly released evidence is a photograph recovered from Epstein’s estate showing Bill Clinton smiling alongside Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The image appears to bear Clinton’s signature.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s child sex trafficking operation. The committee has said its investigation is focused on understanding the full scope of Epstein’s network and the extent of his connections to powerful individuals.
The Clintons themselves have not publicly responded to Comer’s latest threat. However, in November, former Clinton spokesman Angel Ureña attempted to dismiss the matter, writing on X that “Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing,” and that “the rest is noise meant to distract from election losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else.”
Ureña’s statement reflects the broader political context surrounding the Epstein investigation, which has reignited scrutiny of figures across the political spectrum. The committee’s disclosures have also complicated efforts by Republicans to focus attention exclusively on Democrats, as materials released by Oversight show President Donald Trump had social interactions with Epstein as well. Those records reportedly include a lewd birthday message attributed to Trump, which the president has denied sending.
Despite those complications, Comer has made clear that subpoenas will be enforced regardless of political stature. His latest statement signals growing frustration with what he describes as stonewalling by the Clintons and underscores the committee’s willingness to use its full authority to compel testimony.
As the December deposition dates approach, the confrontation sets up a high-stakes test of congressional oversight power — and whether two of the most prominent figures in modern American politics will finally answer questions under oath about their ties to one of the most notorious criminals in recent history.
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