Clintons refuse to testify in Epstein inquiry, could be held in contempt – National
“Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences,” the Clintons wrote to Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, according to a letter first reported by the New York Times.
“For us, now is that time,” they added.
The couple was set to testify starting Tuesday in the U.S. Congress investigation, and Republicans warned they could possibly face contempt charges if they failed to appear.
The Clintons also addressed the likelihood of the committee voting to hold them in contempt.
“We expect you will direct your committee to seek to hold us in contempt,” they wrote. “You will say it is not our decision to make. But we have made it. Now you have to make yours.”
In the letter, released on social media Tuesday, the Clintons told Comer he’s on the cusp of a process “literally designed to result in our imprisonment.”
After the letter was published, the House Oversight Committee announced that it will seek to hold Clinton in contempt after he failed to appear for his deposition.
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“As a result of Bill Clinton not showing up for his lawful subpoena, which again was voted unanimously by the committee in a bipartisan manner, we will move next week in the House Oversight Committee markup to hold former President Clinton in contempt of Congress,” Comer told reporters Tuesday morning on Capitol Hill.
“No one’s accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing. We just have questions,” Comer said after Bill Clinton did not show up for a scheduled deposition at House offices Tuesday.
“Anyone would admit they spent a lot of time together,” he added.
Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein but had a well-documented friendship with Epstein, a wealthy financier, throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Republicans have zeroed in on that relationship as they try to wrestle control over demands for a full accounting of Epstein’s wrongdoing.
Comer also indicated that the committee would not attempt to compel testimony from U.S. President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican, saying that it could not force a sitting president to testify.
In December, Comer threatened to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against the Clintons if they refused to appear for depositions as part of the committee’s investigation into Epstein.
In a statement on Dec. 12, Comer said that the Clintons had “delayed, obstructed, and largely ignored the Committee staff’s efforts to schedule their testimony” for several months. He said the committee would begin proceedings to try to force them to testify if they didn’t appear the following week or schedule an appearance in January.
His statement came hours after Democrats on the committee had released dozens of photos they had received from Epstein’s estate, including images of Clinton.
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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
— with files from The Associated Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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