Former President Bill Clinton apparently decided that congressional subpoenas are optional, at least when they involve uncomfortable questions about Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton was scheduled to appear Tuesday for a sworn, closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee as part of its bipartisan investigation into Epstein and his network. He did not show up.
According to Fox News Digital, Clinton was nowhere to be seen entering or leaving the Capitol ahead of the planned 10 a.m. session. No dramatic excuse. No public explanation. Just an empty chair where a former president was supposed to be answering questions under oath.
Committee Chairman James Comer had already made it clear that skipping the deposition was not a free pass. Comer warned that Clinton could face contempt of Congress proceedings if he failed to appear. That warning now looks less hypothetical and more like the next logical step.
Lawmakers did show up. Representatives including Lauren Boebert and Scott Perry were seen entering the committee room, ready to do the job Clinton declined to do. The contrast was hard to miss. Members of Congress followed the process. A former president did not.
This is not a fishing expedition. Last July, the Oversight Committee’s subpanel on federal law enforcement unanimously approved subpoenas for ten individuals tied to the Epstein case. That list included former Attorney General Bill Barr, former FBI Director James Comey, and both Clintons. Bill Clinton was scheduled for Tuesday. Hillary Clinton is scheduled for Wednesday.
Comer has already warned that Hillary Clinton could also face contempt proceedings if she refuses to comply. As of Tuesday morning, a committee spokesperson confirmed that neither Clinton had contacted the panel to explain their apparent refusal to appear. No scheduling conflict was offered. No lawyer called ahead. Silence.
House Oversight Committee Chairman @RepJamesComer says he intends to begin proceedings next week to hold Clinton in contempt of Congress. That would have to pass a House vote. If it does, it would then be referred to DOJ for potential criminal prosecution.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 13, 2026
The Clintons’ long documented association with Jeffrey Epstein has raised questions for years, questions that were never fully answered while the media looked the other way. This investigation is one of the few serious efforts to put sworn testimony on the record, regardless of status or last name.
The Hill reached out to Clinton representatives and attorneys, and received no response. That silence says more than any carefully crafted statement ever could.
If an ordinary citizen ignored a congressional subpoena, consequences would follow quickly. The rule of law does not include carve-outs for former presidents who would rather avoid tough questions. If Bill Clinton believes he is above this process, the House Oversight Committee now has a decision to make.
Contempt of Congress is not symbolic. It exists for moments exactly like this. The question is whether Congress has the backbone to enforce it, even when the witness is a Clinton.
Leave a Comment