House Oversight Committee approves contempt of Congress vote for Clintons
The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday approved a contempt of Congress resolution for former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The motion, which now moves to a full House vote, could lead to criminal charges and potential jail time.
Nine Democrats voted with all Republicans on the panel to approve the former president’s contempt resolution, while three Democrats voted to hold the former secretary of state in contempt.
The committee had subpoenaed the Clintons for questioning regarding the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The committee’s chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., refused an offer to interview the former president under oath in Clinton’s New York office, leading to the vote.
“The Clintons’ testimony is critical to understanding Epstein’s sex trafficking network and the ways he sought to curry favor and influence to shield himself from scrutiny,” Comer said in prepared remarks as the committee convened. “Their testimony may also inform how Congress can strengthen laws to better combat human trafficking.”
Comer said the Clintons “must be held accountable” for refusing to testify. If found guilty of criminal contempt of Congress, each could be sentenced to a year in prison and fined as much as $100,000.
Testimony negotiations
The Clintons previously gave sworn statements to Comer in response to the subpoena, as did seven others subpoenaed for the inquiry. Comer refused to accept the Clintons’ statements and demanded they sit for questioning. The Clintons said Comer is holding them to a different standard.
On Wednesday, Comer said others who were allowed to submit statements, unlike the Clintons, had no personal relationship with Epstein. He said the Clintons are stalling for time, hoping for the House to flip to Democratic control and that “you all let them off the hook,” referring to the Democrats.
Comer also had issues with the Clintons allegedly not allowing a transcript during their proposed meeting with Comer. However, the Clintons denied that, saying they had never ruled out having a transcript.
The Clintons’ legal team said this would be the first time in history that a former president sat for in-person testimony under oath to assist a congressional investigation, according to The New York Times.
The couple had offered to discuss subjects within the committee’s legislative scope, which meant discussing the Epstein investigation. They had raised concerns that the committee would be allowed to ask unrelated questions. However, Comer rejected the proposal and insisted the Clintons appear in front of the entire committee and there be no limits on topics that committee members could raise.
The Clintons had also raised concerns about Hillary Clinton’s subpoena since she has said she never met Epstein. The family said her subpoena was a “bargaining chip to force her husband’s hand.”
“Republicans might want to think twice about making family fair game,” said Angel Ureña, spokesperson for former President Clinton.
What is the Clintons’ relationship to Epstein?
The Clintons have repeatedly called for the Department of Justice to release all files pertaining to Epstein, including those that include the former president. The DOJ released several images of Clinton with Epstein or his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
The former president took four international trips on Epstein’s private jet in 2002 and 2003. However, the Clintons said they never visited Epstein’s private island.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
