Bill and Hillary Clinton must attend depositions to avoid contempt in House Epstein probe

WASHINGTON, DC: The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has put past and present White House figures on edge. The House Oversight Committee has tightened its scrutiny after President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act to make the remaining records public.

Chairman James Comer has directed Bill and Hillary Clinton to sit for depositions next month as part of the panel’s Epstein inquiry. Failure to appear could result in contempt of Congress. Bill has been scheduled for a deposition at 10 am on December 17, while Hillary is set to appear at 10 am the following day.

James Comer denies Bill and Hillary Clinton's request to provide a written summary

On August 5, James Comer sent subpoenas (legal order that requires a person to give testimony) to Bill and Hillary Clinton seeking details about any interactions they had with Jeffrey Epstein. On November 3, Clintons' attorney David Kendall replied that the couple had very little connection to Epstein. They requested permission to provide a written summary instead of appearing in person.

Comer firmly denied the request, saying such an arrangement was unacceptable, and released a statement on Friday, November 21. "Given their history with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, any attempt by the Clintons to avoid sitting for a deposition would be in defiance of lawful subpoenas and grounds to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings," Comer said, as per Fox News.

"The Committee looks forward to confirming their appearance and remains committed to delivering transparency and accountability for the survivors of Epstein’s heinous crimes and for the American people." He also pushed back on the attorney’s claim that the Clintons’ testimony is irrelevant.

“Additionally, your suggestion that your clients’ testimony would not be relevant to the stated purposes of the Committee’s investigation because the events in question took place outside of the Clintons’ respective official duties misses the Committee’s point,” Comer added.

“It is precisely the fact President Clinton and Secretary Clinton each maintained relationships with Mr Epstein and Ms Maxwell in their personal capacities as private citizens that is of interest to the Committee," he stressed, as per the New York Post. 

What could happen if Bill and Hillary Clinton refuse to appear for their Epstein depositions?

If Bill and Hillary Clinton ignore the subpoenas, James Comer says he will start contempt of Congress actions. First, the House Oversight Committee would have to approve it. Then the full House would vote. If it passes, the case would be sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi for possible criminal charges.

Under the Joe Biden administration, contempt of Congress charges were brought against Trump allies Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro. They were both prosecuted and even sent to prison for refusing to comply with subpoenas from the committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack.

Bill Clinton's flights on Epstein's private jet and Hillary Clinton’s campaign donations

Bill Clinton has acknowledged that he traveled on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet but has maintained that he never visited the disgraced financier's private island. In his 2024 memoir, 'Citizen', the former president wrote that he wished he had never met Epstein.

After leaving the White House, Clinton reportedly flew more than a dozen times on Epstein’s jet, which later became known as the “Lolita Express.” Meanwhile, Hillary received campaign donations from Epstein for her Senate run before he faced legal troubles in the mid-2000s, as per the Independent.