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House Set to Vote on Criminal Referrals for Bill and Hillary Clinton in Epstein Probe
The House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on whether to refer former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Department of Justice for potential criminal charges. The vote follows their failure to comply with subpoenas related to a congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
The House Rules Committee, which acts as the final gatekeeper before most legislation reaches a chamber-wide vote, will consider a pair of contempt of Congress resolutions targeting the Clintons at 4 p.m. ET on Monday. These resolutions are anticipated to pass along party lines, setting up final votes as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.
Both Clintons were subpoenaed by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) to testify as part of the committee’s ongoing probe into Jeffrey Epstein. Despite months of negotiations between the Clintons’ legal representatives and committee staff, neither appeared under the terms set by Chairman Comer, prompting him to initiate contempt proceedings.
“This shows that no one is above the law,” Comer told reporters after his committee advanced the resolutions last month. “I’m just real proud of the committee and look forward to hopefully getting the Epstein documents in very quickly and trying to get answers for the American people.”
In a notable development, the committee voted with bipartisan support to advance the contempt resolutions. Nine Democrats joined Republicans to move forward with the resolution against Bill Clinton, while three Democrats supported advancing the resolution against Hillary Clinton. However, most Democratic committee members have criticized Comer’s actions as politically motivated.
The Clintons were among ten individuals subpoenaed by Comer’s committee in connection with the Epstein investigation. These subpoenas followed a bipartisan vote by an Oversight subcommittee panel during an unrelated hearing on illegal immigration.
Democrats on the committee have pointed to what they view as inconsistent enforcement by Chairman Comer. They note that he has not pursued contempt charges against others who failed to appear before the committee, nor has he threatened action against the Department of Justice for not producing all requested Epstein-related documents by an agreed deadline. The DOJ has thus far delivered only a fraction of the expected materials.
Comer has maintained that he remains in communication with the Justice Department regarding document production, suggesting he is taking a different approach with federal agencies than with private individuals who defy congressional subpoenas.
If the House approves the contempt resolutions this week, it would effectively recommend both Clintons for prosecution by the Department of Justice. A contempt of Congress charge is classified as a felony misdemeanor and carries potential penalties of up to $100,000 in fines and a maximum of one year in jail.
The vote represents a significant escalation in the Republican-led investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities and connections to high-profile individuals. Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had connections to numerous powerful figures, making the investigation politically sensitive.
Legal experts note that while Congress can refer individuals for contempt charges, the ultimate decision to prosecute rests with the Department of Justice, which has historically been reluctant to pursue such cases, particularly involving former high-ranking government officials.
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12 Comments
The House’s decision to consider criminal referrals for the Clintons is certainly a bold move. I’ll be interested to see how this plays out and what new information comes to light.
Given the gravity of the Epstein scandal, I think it’s prudent for the House to pursue these criminal referrals. The American people deserve answers, no matter who is implicated.
I share your sentiment. No one should be above the law, and all relevant evidence needs to be carefully considered.
Referrals for potential criminal charges against the Clintons are certainly controversial, but the congressional probe appears to have uncovered troubling information. I’ll be following this story closely.
While the Clintons have faced many allegations over the years, this congressional probe into their Epstein ties seems particularly concerning. I hope the facts are thoroughly examined.
Absolutely, sunlight is the best disinfectant. If wrongdoing is uncovered, it must be addressed swiftly and without bias.
It will be interesting to see how this investigation into the Clintons’ connections to Epstein unfolds. Transparency and accountability are crucial for public trust in our institutions.
I agree, the public deserves to know the full truth. Proper investigative procedures must be followed, regardless of political affiliations.
While the Clintons have long been a target of partisan attacks, the Epstein connection is deeply concerning. I hope the House probe is conducted fairly and objectively.
Exactly, this is not about partisan politics – it’s about getting to the truth and ensuring accountability, regardless of who is implicated.
This is a complex and politically charged issue, but I believe the House has an obligation to follow the facts wherever they lead. Transparency and due process are crucial.
I agree, the Clintons’ ties to Epstein deserve thorough and impartial investigation. The American people need to have confidence in their government.