Clinton Expected to Defy Epstein Probe Subpoena, Risking Legal Action

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to ignore a congressional subpoena ordering her to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, potentially facing criminal charges for defying the summons.

Clinton was scheduled to give a closed-door deposition at 10 a.m. as part of the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The GOP-led panel has indicated it will proceed with the interview regardless of her attendance.

Earlier this week, attorneys for both Hillary and Bill Clinton sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) calling their subpoenas “invalid and legally unenforceable.” The letter represents the latest development in an escalating standoff between the former first couple and congressional Republicans.

This confrontation follows Bill Clinton’s failure to appear for his own scheduled deposition on Tuesday. In response, Chairman Comer told reporters that the committee would meet next week to advance a contempt resolution against the former president.

“Not a single Democrat showed up today, not a single Democrat,” Comer said after Bill Clinton’s no-show. “It just seems like they only care about pushing Republicans. And we’ve had a former Trump Cabinet secretary, Alex Acosta, in for a grilling. We had Bill Barr, former attorney general, in for a grilling. But for whatever reason, President Clinton didn’t show up.”

The Clintons are among ten individuals subpoenaed by the committee in its Epstein investigation. These subpoenas followed a bipartisan vote by an Oversight subcommittee panel during an unrelated hearing on illegal immigration.

In their letter challenging the subpoenas, the Clintons’ attorneys argued that they have already provided what limited information they possess about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to the committee. The lawyers suggested that continued pressure for testimony would lead to “a protracted and unnecessary legal confrontation that distracts from the principal work of the Congress with respect to this matter.”

Comer has previously threatened contempt proceedings against both Clintons if they skipped their January deposition dates, which had already been rescheduled twice during discussions with their attorneys. When asked if Hillary Clinton would face similar consequences if she failed to appear Wednesday, Comer responded, “We’ll see. We’ll talk about it.”

If contempt proceedings move forward, the process would require the House Oversight Committee to advance a contempt resolution before consideration by the entire chamber. Should a simple majority vote to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress, a criminal referral would traditionally be made to the Department of Justice.

A criminal contempt of Congress charge carries potential consequences including up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $100,000 for those convicted.

Despite the serious nature of the subpoenas, Comer has maintained that the investigation is not making accusations against Bill Clinton. “No one’s accusing Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing. We just have questions. And that’s why the Democrats voted, along with Republicans, to subpoena Bill Clinton,” he said.

The Epstein investigation has become one of several high-profile probes conducted by House Republicans during this congressional session, reflecting ongoing partisan tensions in Washington. Critics of the investigation have questioned the timing and motivations behind these subpoenas, while supporters argue they represent necessary oversight regarding connections to Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 of helping recruit and groom teenage girls for sexual encounters with Epstein.

As Wednesday’s scheduled deposition approaches, the standoff highlights the broader power struggle between Congress and high-profile witnesses who challenge the legitimacy of congressional investigations.