The long-running standoff between former US President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the Republican-led House Oversight Committee is reaching a critical juncture. Chairman James Comer has issued a final ultimatum, threatening to hold the couple in contempt of Congress if they do not comply with subpoenas for in-person depositions regarding the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
The Impending Deadline and Legal Threat
In a letter dated Friday, December 12, Chairman Comer set a definitive deadline for the Clintons to appear. They must schedule their testimony for either Wednesday, December 17, or Thursday, December 18. The only alternative is to arrange a date in early January. Failure to do so will result in Comer initiating contempt proceedings against them immediately.
The consequences of such a move are severe. Criminal contempt of Congress carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Comer has accused the Clintons of having "delayed, obstructed and largely ignored" the committee's efforts to secure their testimony.
A Political Battle Over High-Profile Associations
This escalation occurs against a backdrop of intense partisan manoeuvring concerning the Epstein scandal. Republicans have sought to shift focus onto prominent Democrats like the Clintons, while Democrats have emphasised the associations of former President Donald Trump. All three were among the well-known figures who had links to Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence.
The Clintons' attorney, David Kendall, has argued that the investigation is a "weaponised" political attack, designed to divert attention from Trump's own relationship with Epstein. In correspondence with the committee, Kendall stated his clients had provided sworn statements and that live testimony was unnecessary. He also claimed the committee was being "complicit" in Trump's efforts to redirect the narrative.
Stalled Investigations and Released Evidence
The Oversight Committee's probe into the Epstein network has seen limited cooperation. To date, former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr is the only person who has complied with a subpoena for a live deposition. The committee excused former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller and withdrew subpoenas for five former attorneys general.
However, Comer has refused to grant the same courtesy to the Clintons, despite their provision of sworn statements. This insistence comes as the full cache of Epstein-related documents is poised for public release by December 19, following a congressional vote and Trump's signature.
Flight logs have shown Bill Clinton took four trips on Epstein's plane, the so-called "Lolita Express," in 2002 and 2003, though he maintains he cut ties with Epstein long ago and never visited his private island. A recently released, signed photograph of Clinton with Epstein has further fuelled the committee's demands for testimony.
The coming days will determine whether this high-stakes political and legal confrontation results in unprecedented contempt charges against a former US president and a former secretary of state, or a last-minute agreement for testimony.
