House Panel Votes to Hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in Contempt Over Epstein Subpoenas

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are shown as a U.S. House panel votes to hold both in contempt of Congress over subpoenas related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Oversight Committee Approves Contempt Measure

A key U.S. House committee has voted to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress after both declined to comply with subpoenas tied to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee approved the measure with support from several Democrats. The vote sends the matter to the full House of Representatives, where lawmakers will decide whether to formally refer the case to the Department of Justice.

What the Subpoenas Sought

The committee had subpoenaed both Clintons to testify about their knowledge of and interactions with Epstein. Bill Clinton appeared with Epstein in photographs taken during the 1990s and early 2000s, including images recently released by the Justice Department.

Despite the renewed scrutiny, Bill Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims and has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity.

Divisions Inside Congress

The contempt vote revealed fractures within the Democratic Party. Nine Democrats joined Republicans in voting to hold Bill Clinton in contempt, while three Democrats supported holding Hillary Clinton in contempt.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said the vote was intended to reinforce accountability, stating that Congress was sending a message that “no one is above the law, regardless of position, pedigree, or prestige.”

The Clintons Push Back

Attorneys for the Clintons sharply criticized the subpoenas, calling them “unenforceable” and politically motivated. In correspondence with the committee, they argued that the subpoenas lacked a legitimate legislative purpose and amounted to an unprecedented intrusion on the separation of powers.

The lawyers also said the Clintons had already cooperated voluntarily by providing what limited information they had about Epstein.

Legal Stakes if the House Votes Yes

If the full House approves the contempt citations, the matter would be referred to the Department of Justice, which would decide whether to pursue charges.

Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor that carries potential penalties of up to one year in prison and fines of up to $100,000. Prosecution, however, is not automatic and would rest entirely with federal prosecutors.

Epstein Files Still Largely Unreleased

The vote comes as public pressure continues to build over the release of Epstein-related documents. Although Congress passed a law requiring the Justice Department to release materials tied to Epstein investigations by December 19, the majority of those records remain unpublished.

Many of the documents that were released contained unexplained redactions, including names and faces of individuals investigated by authorities. Officials have acknowledged that millions of documents are still pending release.

A Case That Refuses to Fade

As the Epstein investigation continues to cast a long shadow over U.S. politics, the contempt vote against the Clintons marks one of the most aggressive congressional actions yet involving high-profile figures.

Whether the full House advances the measure and whether the Justice Department takes action will determine how far this confrontation between Congress and two former leaders ultimately goes.