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The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted Wednesday to advance two resolutions seeking to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress, escalating a long-running investigation tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The action stems from subpoenas unanimously approved by the committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee on July 23, 2025. Lawmakers sought sworn testimony from several individuals, including the Clintons, as part of a probe into Epstein’s crimes and his network of high-profile associates. Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, had documented connections to Bill Clinton, including multiple flights aboard Epstein’s private jet, though no criminal allegations have been made against the Clintons.
After initial delays, the subpoenas were reissued with depositions scheduled for January 13 for Bill Clinton and January 14 for Hillary Clinton. Neither appeared as required, triggering sharp criticism from Republicans on the committee, who argued that the failure to comply left them no choice but to pursue contempt proceedings.
Attorneys for the Clintons responded in a letter to Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY), calling the subpoenas “invalid” and lacking any legitimate legislative purpose. They accused Republicans of weaponizing the committee for political reasons, a charge echoed in a public statement from the Clintons themselves, who warned they would “forcefully defend” against what they described as an abuse of congressional power.
Despite those objections, the committee moved forward. On January 21, members voted 34–8, with two present votes, to advance the contempt resolution against Bill Clinton, with nine Democrats joining Republicans. A separate vote against Hillary Clinton passed 28–15, with one present vote and three Democrats voting in favor, according to Politico.
Chairman Comer said the committee did not act lightly but emphasized that subpoenas carry the force of law and cannot simply be ignored. With committee approval secured, the resolutions now head to the full House of Representatives. If the House votes to adopt them, the Speaker would certify the contempt citations and refer the matter to federal prosecutors. Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and fines of up to $100,000, a point Republicans have highlighted given recent prosecutions of Trump allies who defied congressional subpoenas.[/read]