James Comer turns down Clintons’ ‘ridiculous offer’ for unofficial interview about Epstein probe

WASHINGTON, DC: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer isn’t buying what the Clintons are selling.

The Kentucky Republican revealed he flatly “rejected” what he called a “ridiculous offer” from Bill and Hillary Clinton to sit down for an unofficial, off-the-record interview as part of the House probe into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

James Comer rejects Clintons' alleged offer

According to Comer, the Clintons’ legal team floated an arrangement that would have ditched standard congressional procedure altogether.

“Facing contempt of Congress, the Clintons’ lawyers made an untenable offer: that I travel to New York for a conversation with President Clinton only,” Comer wrote in a post on X late Tuesday. “No official transcript would be recorded and other Members of Congress would be barred from participating. I have rejected the Clintons’ ridiculous offer.”

Comer accused the Clintons of acting as though their last name comes with congressional privileges.

“The Clintons’ latest demands make clear they believe their last name entitles them to special treatment,” he added.

He stressed that the House Oversight Committee’s subpoenas are bipartisan and require sworn testimony with a formal record.

“The House Oversight Committee’s bipartisan subpoenas require the Clintons to appear for depositions that are under oath and transcribed,” Comer said. “Former President Clinton has a documented history of parsing language to evade questions, responded falsely under oath, and was impeached and suspended from the practice of law as a result.”

Why ‘no transcript’ is a nonstarter

In his statement, Comer explained why the Clintons’ push for an unofficial conversation was a dealbreaker. “The absence of an official transcript is an indefensible demand that is insulting to the American people who demand answers about Epstein’s crimes,” he wrote.

Comer pointed out that the committee has already released transcripts of interviews with major figures to ensure public transparency.

“As part of our investigation, the House Oversight Committee has released transcripts of interviews with former US Attorney General Bill Barr and former US Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta, which has provided much needed transparency to the public,” he said. “Without a formal record, Americans would be left to rely on competing accounts of what was said.”

Comer also argued that Hillary Clinton’s testimony remains central to the investigation.

“Former Secretary Clinton’s on-the-record testimony is necessary for the Committee’s investigation given her knowledge from her time as Secretary of State of the federal government’s work to counter international sex-tracking rings, her personal knowledge of Ms. Maxwell, and her family’s relationship with Mr Epstein,” he wrote.

He then declared, “Contempt proceedings begin tomorrow.”

Subpoenas, no-shows, and pushback from Clintons

Comer has previously said he would move to hold Hillary Clinton “in contempt of Congress over her failure to appear for a deposition” related to the Epstein investigation.

Earlier this month, he said the committee had spent months negotiating with the Clintons’ legal team without results. “I think what’s most disappointing to the Oversight Committee is the fact that we have, in good faith, negotiated with the Clintons’ attorney for five months,” Comer said. “Throughout the past five months, they’ve implied to us they are trying to make a date work.”

The committee has also been reported to be considering “a resolution” to hold former President Bill Clinton in contempt after he “also did not appear for” a scheduled deposition. 

The dispute stems from subpoenas Comer issued in August 2025 to several high-profile figures to “testify in an investigation centered on the ‘horrific crimes perpetrated’” by Epstein.

These included former Attorneys General Alberto Gonzales and Jeff Sessions, former FBI Director James Comey, and the Clintons. Most of those subpoenaed were not called in after telling the committee in sworn statements that they had no relevant information.

The Clintons, however, fired back with a letter to Comer. Their lawyers argued the subpoenas were legally invalid and accused the Oversight chairman of failing to push the Justice Department to release Epstein-related records. 

“President and Secretary Clinton have already provided the limited information they possess about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to the Committee,” the lawyers wrote. “They did so proactively and voluntarily, and despite the fact that the Subpoenas are invalid and legally unenforceable, untethered to a valid legislative purpose, unwarranted because they do not seek pertinent information, and an unprecedented infringement on the separation of powers.”