The GOP is demanding answers and the Clintons can’t appear to provide any.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is urging Democrats to put politics aside and support a key procedural vote that could lead to former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton facing potential criminal referrals.
The vote, scheduled for Wednesday, would advance House-wide consideration of contempt of Congress resolutions after both Clintons declined to comply with subpoenas issued by the Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to prepared remarks cited by Fox News Digital, Comer will emphasize that the committee did not act hastily or unfairly. He is expected to remind lawmakers that congressional subpoenas are legal obligations—not optional requests.
“Subpoenas carry the force of law and require compliance,” Comer will say, according to the report. He will argue that both Clintons were legally required to appear for sworn depositions and chose not to do so.
Committee Says It Offered Flexibility
Comer is also expected to state that the Oversight Committee made repeated good-faith efforts to accommodate scheduling concerns raised by the Clintons’ legal team. Instead of cooperation, he claims the committee encountered delays, excuses, and resistance.
“Actions have consequences,” Comer will argue. “If Democrats refuse to support accountability here, they risk exposing a double standard that the American people have seen for far too long.”
The committee is set to meet Wednesday morning to formally mark up two separate contempt reports—one related to Bill Clinton and one related to Hillary Clinton. If approved, the measures would move to the full House for a vote on whether to refer the matter to the Department of Justice.
Equal Justice at the Center of the Fight
Republicans say the issue is not about personalities, but about enforcing Congress’s constitutional authority to conduct investigations.
“We must demonstrate that the law applies equally to everyone, regardless of status or political connections,” Comer is expected to say.
A contempt of Congress finding is classified as a misdemeanor and can result in fines reaching $100,000, along with a possible jail sentence of up to one year.
Republicans have repeatedly pointed out that associates of President Donald Trump, including Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, were prosecuted and convicted on contempt charges after refusing subpoenas from the now-defunct January 6 select committee—highlighting what they see as unequal enforcement when powerful Democrats are involved.
Investigation Turns Partisan
The Clintons were among ten high-profile individuals subpoenaed earlier this year in connection with the Epstein investigation. What began with bipartisan support has since devolved into sharp partisan disagreement, with each side accusing the other of politicizing the probe.
Democrats on the committee argue Republicans are selectively enforcing subpoenas. Ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) has accused Comer of hypocrisy, claiming the chairman should be more aggressive in forcing the Justice Department to release additional Epstein-related documents.
Comer disputes that claim and says accountability cannot be applied selectively based on political affiliation.
Rejected Interview Offer
Adding to the controversy, Comer disclosed this week that he rejected an offer from Bill Clinton’s legal team to conduct an informal interview in New York without an official transcript.
According to Comer, such conditions would undermine the integrity of a congressional investigation.
“The committee will not accept special treatment,” Comer said in a statement. “Due to the Clintons’ continued refusal to comply with lawful subpoenas, the House Oversight Committee will move forward with contempt resolutions.”
What Comes Next
As the House prepares for a potential vote, Republicans argue the moment represents a defining test: whether Congress will enforce the law evenly—or whether powerful political figures remain shielded from accountability.
For many voters, especially those who watched Trump allies prosecuted for similar actions, the outcome could reinforce long-standing concerns about unequal justice in Washington.
