The House Oversight Committee is preparing to hold the Clintons in contempt after they refused to testify in the congressional probe into Jeffrey Epstein.

A House Oversight Committee spokeswoman told the Daily Caller that the committee was moving to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt if they did not appear for scheduled depositions. Just hours before the Tuesday deadline, the former first couple made it clear they had no intention of appearing on Capitol Hill to testify before Chairman Comer and his committee.

The committee spokeswoman said, “The Clintons have not confirmed their appearances for their subpoenaed depositions. They are obligated under the law to appear and we expect them to do so. If the Clintons do not appear for their depositions, the House Oversight Committee will begin contempt of Congress proceedings.”

🚨 COMER: “As a result of Bill Clinton not showing up for his lawful subpoena…we will move next week in the House Oversight Committee markup to hold former President Clinton in contempt of Congress.” pic.twitter.com/UEmEiBEwtX

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 13, 2026

The Clintons submitted an eight-page legal letter arguing that the subpoenas were “invalid and legally unenforceable,” according to The New York Times (NYT). This was followed by a joint statement pledging to fight Comer’s efforts for as long as necessary. 

In the letter, the Clintons noted that they had already provided sworn statements similar to those accepted from seven or eight other former officials who were excused from testifying. They also said they have no relevant knowledge regarding the investigation.

“We are confident that any reasonable person in or out of Congress will see, based on everything we release, that what you are doing is trying to punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those you think are your friends,” the Clintons wrote.

Their letter referenced Trump’s immigration policies, Justice Department prosecutions and Republican resistance to extending health care subsidies. They alleged Comer was attempting to use Congress to pursue a politically motivated process “literally designed to result in our imprisonment,” the NYT reported.

“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,” they wrote “For us, now is that time.”

This is not about Right or Left, it’s about Right and Wrong. pic.twitter.com/IVQh3yHEGG

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) January 13, 2026

On July 23, 2025, Republican and Democrat members of the Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee unanimously okayed a motion via voice vote to send subpoenas for ten people, the Clintons among them, for testimony connected to the crimes allegedly committed by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Comer then sent the subpoenas on Aug. 5, 2025.

Former President Clinton’s deposition was initially requested for Oct. 14, 2025, and later rescheduled for Dec. 17, 2025. He declined the December date, saying he had to be at a funeral. The Committee indicated it would accommodate him if he proposed specific dates for January, but he did not. A new subpoena was then issued scheduling his deposition for Jan. 13, 2026.

Former Secretary Clinton’s deposition was originally set for Oct. 9, 2025, and then rescheduled for Dec. 18, 2025. She also declined the December date for a funeral. The Committee again offered to reschedule if she proposed dates in January, but she did not. Her deposition was then set for Jan. 14, 2026.

The Committee is expected to proceed with the depositions for the record, and the Clintons’ seats will remain empty if they do not attend. Should they fail to appear, the Committee will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings in the coming days.