Topline
Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, were held in contempt of Congress on Wednesday by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the sex-trafficking case involving Jeffrey Epstein and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton were held contempt of Congress by a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday.
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Key Facts
The Clintons were subpoenaed to testify before the House Oversight Committee earlier this month for depositions related to Epstein’s sex trafficking network, but their attorney said in a letter they would not comply.
The former president has faced questions for years over his past association with Epstein, though he has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
The committee ruled 34-8 in favor of Bill Clinton for contempt of Congress and 23-15 for Hillary Clinton; nine democrats voted in favor of the resolution toward Bill Clinton and three voted in favor of the Hillary Clinton resolution.
Among them was Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who said in a post on X, “We should hold anybody connected to Epstein in contempt who will not give us information. The survivors deserve transparency and justice.”
Both resolutions will move to the House floor, where a vote will likely take place within two weeks, according to Oversight Committee chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.
In a letter the Clintons wrote to Comer announcing they would not comply with the subpoenas, they said the contempt motion was “literally designed to result in our imprisonment,” arguing that the subpoenas they were issued were “invalid and legally enforceable.”
Chief Critic
“We are confident that any reasonable person in or out of Congress will see, based on everything we release, that what you are doing is trying to punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those you think are your friends,” the Clintons said in their letter.
Crucial Quote
“The Committee does not take this action lightly. But subpoenas are not mere suggestions; they carry the force of law and require compliance. Former President Clinton and Secretary Clinton were legally required to appear for depositions before this Committee. They refused,” Comer said Wednesday. “Actions have consequences,” he later said.
What To Watch For
House Republicans could now bring either a civil lawsuit or refer the Clintons for criminal charges. The process would have to go through the entire legal process, including potential appeals, meaning any resolution would be months or potentially years away. The possible punishments for being found in contempt of Congress is a fine of up to $100,000 and prison time of no more than 12 months.
Further Reading
‘Never On The Island’: What The Latest Epstein Files Say About Bill Clinton (Forbes)
Bill Clinton’s Spokesperson Calls For ‘Immediate Release’ Of Epstein Files Mentioning Former President (Forbes)