Washington, D.C. — House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced late Wednesday that Republicans have secured enough votes in both the committee and the full House to advance criminal contempt of Congress charges against former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The charges stem from the couple's refusal to appear for scheduled depositions in the committee's investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The development marks a significant escalation in a months-long standoff between congressional Republicans and the Clintons, who have publicly rejected the subpoenas as partisan and legally invalid. While no wrongdoing has been alleged against either Clinton in connection with Epstein's crimes, the former president's documented ties to the disgraced financier—including multiple flights on Epstein's private plane—have long drawn public scrutiny.
Latest Update: Clintons Release Sworn Declarations Denying Knowledge of Epstein Crimes
In the most recent development, the Clintons' office released sworn declarations on January 14, 2026, stating they have no knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities and have already provided all relevant information to the committee. They accused Chairman Comer of misleading the public and focusing on political theater rather than substantive progress in preventing future crimes like Epstein's. Source: ABC News.
Comer dismissed the declarations as insufficient, insisting that live testimony under oath is necessary. Speaking on the "Just The News, No Noise" TV show, he said: “The American people have spoken loud and clear. They want to know the truth about Epstein, and Bill Clinton spent as much time with Jeffrey Epstein as any other high-profile person who’s been named in this whole investigation.”
Background of the Subpoenas and Refusal
The subpoenas were originally issued last year, with depositions initially scheduled for October before being postponed—first due to a funeral, then rescheduled for mid-January 2026. Bill Clinton was expected to appear on Tuesday, January 13, and Hillary Clinton on Wednesday, January 14. Neither appeared.
In a public letter posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Clintons explained their decision: “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. For us, now is that time.” They described the probe as politically motivated and noted that other subpoenaed officials, including former attorneys general and FBI directors, have not been similarly pressured to testify in person.
Next Steps and Potential Outcomes
The Oversight Committee is expected to vote on contempt resolutions next week. If approved by the committee and the full House—both controlled by Republicans—the matter would be referred to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution. Comer has expressed confidence in securing passage, suggesting even some Democratic votes could materialize given public interest in Epstein-related transparency.
Critics on the Democratic side argue the focus on the Clintons distracts from broader systemic issues exposed by the Epstein case, while supporters of the investigation maintain that no one—not even former presidents—is above congressional oversight.
Primary source: Just The News – "House Republicans have enough votes to hold Clintons in contempt of Congress, Comer reveals"
Additional reporting from The New York Times, The Guardian, ABC News, CBS News, and Politico.
Original article: Comer: Votes Secured to Hold Clintons in Contempt Over Epstein Probe on Planet Today 🚀
Automatically republished from the main blog.