Clintons May Face Contempt of Congress After Failing to Testify at Epstein Hearing

WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could face contempt of Congress after failing to appear Tuesday at a House Oversight Committee hearing examining ties to late human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, prompting lawmakers to threaten legal action.

Committee Chair James R. Comer, R-Ky., has warned that skipping the hearing could lead to contempt proceedings, a misdemeanor charge that alleges obstruction of Congress. 

Subpoenas ordering the Clintons’ testimony were issued July 23, 2025, as part of the committee’s broader investigation into Epstein’s crimes and his connections to prominent figures.

The subpoenas followed the release of photographs by the Department of Justice that appeared to show Bill Clinton at Epstein’s estate and aboard Epstein’s private plane. Some images included redactions of other individuals’ faces, indicating they could be potential victims of sex crimes.

Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide, though there were suspicious circumstances, including cameras that allegedly malfunctioned and guards who failed to perform 30-minute checks on him as required.

Federal investigators then seized Epstein’s personal files, which were added to a large collection of materials used in investigations tied to Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

In a statement released Monday, Comer said the Clintons had “delayed, obstructed, and largely ignored” staff efforts to schedule their testimony and warned that contempt proceedings would begin if they did not appear or agree to a new date. An eight-page legal letter sent by the Clintons before the hearing argued the subpoenas were “invalid and legally unenforceable” and said they had no relevant knowledge, according to The New York Times. The letter also said they had previously provided sworn statements to Comer.

In a separate response posted on Bill Clinton’s social media accounts after the missed hearing, the Clintons accused Comer of politically motivated targeting and said they planned to fight the subpoenas. “Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences,” the statement said.

Congress has the authority to hold individuals in contempt for refusing to testify or otherwise obstructing investigations. Such charges require a simple majority vote and are referred to a U.S. attorney’s office, which is not required to prosecute. Criminal contempt cases are rare but can carry fines or up to a year in jail.