Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on Tuesday refused to testify in the House's Jeffrey Epstein investigation, setting up a high-stakes clash with Republicans and intensifying scrutiny over what Washington knew about the disgraced financier's web of elite connections.
According to The New York Times, the Clintons informed House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., that they would not appear for subpoenaed, closed-door depositions.
In a lengthy letter obtained by the Times, the former president and former secretary of state said they were "ready to fight," calling the subpoenas "invalid and legally unenforceable" and portraying Comer's inquiry as politically driven.
"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. "For us, now is that time."
The Times reported that Comer has repeatedly threatened contempt proceedings if the Clintons fail to comply, a step that can ultimately lead to a Justice Department referral.
Committee staff said the panel would begin contempt of Congress proceedings if the Clintons did not appear.
Comer's aggressive push, the Times reported, reflects a broader GOP effort to keep the focus on Epstein's ties to prominent Democrats and on the handling of his crimes.
Democrats, meanwhile, accuse Republicans of trying to distract from questions surrounding President Donald Trump's past association with Epstein and the administration's decision to close out its investigation without releasing key information.
But to many Americans, the core issue is bigger than partisan finger-pointing: why did so many powerful people orbit Epstein for years, and why has Washington still failed to deliver full transparency?
The Clintons had been scheduled to begin testimony Tuesday, with Republicans warning they could face contempt charges if they refused to appear.
The committee is probing Epstein's connections to influential figures and how information about his crimes was handled by authorities.
The case has again become politically explosive, with mounting public pressure for transparency after the release of only a small portion of case files, fueling suspicion and anger among many voters who believe elites have been shielded.
A contempt resolution would need approval by the full House before referral to the Justice Department.
Criminal contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and potential fines, though prosecution depends on the Justice Department.
The Times reported the Clintons said they had already provided sworn statements similar to those accepted for other witnesses and insisted they have no relevant knowledge.
Their lawyers argued the subpoenas lacked a valid legislative purpose and crossed constitutional lines.
Still, the standoff is likely to deepen calls for the Oversight Committee to put all key facts on the table — including long-sought details about Epstein's network, the government's handling of evidence, and any institutional failures that allowed a well-connected predator to operate for years.
For conservatives, the episode underscores a familiar pattern: a ruling class that demands accountability from ordinary Americans while trying to lawyer its way out of answering basic questions when the spotlight turns toward the powerful.
AFP contributed to this report.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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