Former U.S. president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton arrive at the U.S. Capitol ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration in Washington on Jan. 20, 2025. AP Photo
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton have said they will not testify before a U.S. House committee investigating the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The couple says they plan to fight the subpoena and describe the process as unfair and politically driven.
In a written statement, the Clintons warned that the investigation appears designed to lead to punishment rather than answers. “We will forcefully defend ourselves,” they wrote. They also accused the committee’s leadership of treating them differently from other former officials, who were allowed to submit written responses instead of appearing in person.
Committee response and next steps
The House Oversight Committee chair, James Comer, said he plans to begin contempt of Congress proceedings next week. This step could trigger a rare and complex process that may involve the Justice Department.
“No one’s accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing. We just have questions,” Comer told reporters after Bill Clinton did not appear for a scheduled deposition. He added, “Anyone would admit they spent a lot of time together.”
The committee continues to review a large volume of documents linked to Epstein as it examines whether evidence ties prominent figures to his crimes.
Clinton and Epstein connection
Bill Clinton has never faced accusations of wrongdoing related to Epstein. However, records and public reporting show that the two maintained a friendship during the 1990s and early 2000s. Republicans have focused on that relationship while calling for full disclosure of Epstein’s activities and associations.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. He died by suicide in a New York jail cell before his trial began.
“We have tried to give you the little information we have. We’ve done so because Mr. Epstein’s crimes were horrific,” the Clintons wrote in their letter.
Precedent and political comparisons
Former presidents have testified before Congress in the past, but none has ever been forced to do so through a subpoena. That history resurfaced in 2022, when then-former president Donald Trump faced a House subpoena related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. His legal team cited long-standing precedent, and the committee later withdrew the subpoena.
Comer said the committee will not try to compel testimony from Trump about Epstein, noting that Congress cannot force a sitting president to testify.
Trump also had a documented friendship with Epstein. He has said he ended that relationship before Epstein faced accusations of sexual abuse.
Investigation continues
The Epstein investigation remains politically charged and legally complex. While the committee presses forward, the Clintons maintain they have already shared all relevant information. The dispute now centres on congressional authority, equal treatment, and how far lawmakers can go when questioning former presidents.
