Overview
- The former president and ex–secretary of state declined to appear for closed-door depositions this week, calling the subpoenas legally invalid and politically motivated in public letters.
- House Oversight Chair James Comer said the committee will move next week to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress, with aides signaling Hillary Clinton could face a similar step.
- Contempt would require a committee vote and then a full House vote before any referral to the Justice Department, which would decide on prosecution in a process rarely used.
- Comer said the panel is not alleging crimes and wants answers about ties to Jeffrey Epstein; the Clintons say they have already provided sworn statements and lack relevant information.
- The dispute unfolds as the Justice Department releases only part of Epstein-related records under a new transparency law and reports receiving about one million additional documents.