By Micah Jonah
January 14, 2026
Former United States President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have refused to testify before a Republican led House investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a move that could expose them to contempt of Congress proceedings.
In a letter addressed to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, the Clintons described the investigation as a partisan exercise and said they would not comply with subpoenas demanding their testimony. They argued that the probe was politically motivated and lacked legal standing.
Chairman Comer said the committee would meet next week to consider holding Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress, a step that could potentially lead to criminal charges. A committee spokesperson added that contempt proceedings would also be initiated against Hillary Clinton if she failed to appear before lawmakers as scheduled.
The Clintons said they had already shared what they described as limited information in their possession and accused the committee of diverting attention from actions taken during the Trump administration. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide.
In their letter, the Clintons said the focus of congressional oversight should be on whether authorities fully investigated and prosecuted Epstein’s crimes, adding that there was no evidence the current probe was aimed at that goal. They insisted there was no justification for compelling their testimony beyond political interests.
Chairman Comer said the committee was seeking answers about Bill Clinton’s past interactions with Epstein, noting that Epstein visited the White House multiple times during Clinton’s presidency and that the former president had flown on Epstein’s private jet on several occasions.
Bill Clinton has previously expressed regret over his association with Epstein, has said he was unaware of any criminal conduct.
No evidence has emerged linking him to Epstein’s sex trafficking activities. Comer said the committee was not accusing Clinton of wrongdoing but wanted clarity on the nature of their relationship.
The United States Justice Department has continued to release documents related to Epstein in line with a transparency law passed by Congress. Epstein was known to have connections with several high profile political figures, including both Republicans and Democrats.
In a separate communication sent by their lawyers, the Clintons maintained that the subpoenas issued by the House committee were invalid and unenforceable, describing them as an attempt to embarrass political opponents.
The dispute sets the stage for a potential legal and political showdown between Congress and two of the most prominent figures in modern Democratic Party history.
