House Panel Votes to Hold Bill, Hillary Clinton in Contempt of Congress
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted Wednesday to advance contempt of Congress resolutions against former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after both refused to comply with subpoenas tied to the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network and its alleged connections to powerful political figures.
The votes represent a significant escalation in Congress’s years-long effort to uncover the full scope of Epstein’s relationships with public officials. Notably, it marks the first time lawmakers have moved simultaneously toward contempt proceedings against a former president and a former cabinet secretary.
Subpoenas were issued on July 23, 2025, by the Oversight Committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee, compelling both Clintons to testify about their past interactions with Epstein. Committee investigators argue the testimony was essential to determining whether federal agencies failed to pursue leads related to Epstein’s activities or his network of associates.
Bill Clinton was scheduled to testify on Jan. 13, followed by Hillary Clinton on Jan. 14. Both declined to appear. Their attorneys sent a letter to Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) dismissing the subpoenas as “invalid” and “politically motivated,” claiming they lacked a legitimate legislative purpose.
In a joint public statement, the Clintons accused Republicans of abusing congressional power.
“Despite everything that needs to be done to help our country, you are on the cusp of bringing Congress to a halt to pursue a rarely used process literally designed to result in our imprisonment,” the couple said. “This is not the way out of America’s ills, and we will forcefully defend ourselves.”
Republicans rejected that argument and pressed forward. The committee voted 34–8 to advance the contempt resolution against Bill Clinton, with nine Democrats joining Republicans and two members voting present. A separate resolution targeting Hillary Clinton passed 28–15, with three Democrats crossing party lines.
Chairman Comer emphasized that the action was grounded in the rule of law, not partisan politics.
“The Committee does not take this action lightly,” Comer said in opening remarks.
“Subpoenas are not mere suggestions — they carry the force of law and require compliance. No witness, not a former president or a private citizen, may willfully defy a duly issued congressional subpoena without consequence. But that is what the Clintons did, and that is why we are here today.”
If approved by the full House, the resolutions would require the Speaker to certify the contempt citations and refer them to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for prosecution. Under federal law, contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
The vote produced an unusual mix of bipartisan support and Democratic discomfort. According to Politico, Democrats Maxwell Frost (FL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL), Summer Lee (PA), Emily Randall (WA), Lateefah Simon (CA), Melanie Stansbury (NM), Rashida Tlaib (MI), along with Massachusetts Democrats Stephen Lynch and Ayanna Pressley, voted to hold Bill Clinton in contempt. Lee, Stansbury, and Tlaib also supported holding Hillary Clinton in contempt, while Rep. Dave Min (CA) voted “present” on both measures.
In written responses to the committee, the Clintons submitted sworn declarations asserting they had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct or that of his associates.
Their legal team claimed they had “negotiated in good faith” for months to arrange alternative interview terms, noting that Bill Clinton offered to meet privately with Comer and committee staff. Comer rejected the proposal, arguing the Clintons were not entitled to preferential treatment.
“This is about equal justice under the law,” a senior GOP staffer said following the vote. “If Democrats were willing to jail Trump officials for ignoring subpoenas, they should be prepared to hold their own accountable when they do the same.”