The long-running Jeffrey Epstein scandal has returned to the heart of U.S. politics, with a Republican-led House committee weighing whether to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in person.
Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee are considering resolutions accusing the Clintons of ignoring subpoenas linked to the panel’s investigation into how authorities handled earlier probes into Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
If approved, the resolutions would move to the full House of Representatives, where Republicans hold the majority, opening the door to a formal contempt citation and a possible referral to the Justice Department.
The vote highlights how the Epstein affair continues to haunt Washington, drawing in some of the most powerful names in American politics. The Clintons argue the inquiry is being used as a political weapon rather than a genuine oversight effort, pointing out that President Donald Trump — who also had past ties to Epstein — has not been called to testify.
Republicans counter that Bill Clinton’s past relationship with Epstein, including flights on his private jet in the early 2000s, warrants in-person, sworn testimony. Committee chairman James Comer rejected a last-minute proposal for a limited interview, saying it failed to meet standard congressional practice.
Instead of appearing before lawmakers, the Clintons submitted sworn written statements outlining what they knew about Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking. Bill Clinton said he never visited Epstein’s private island, while Hillary Clinton maintained she had no meaningful contact with him.
The push for contempt has divided Democrats, with some saying no one should be shielded from scrutiny, while others fear the move is designed to deflect attention from Trump’s own Epstein links and delays in releasing related records.
For now, the controversy underscores a familiar reality in Washington: even years after Epstein’s death, his shadow continues to fuel partisan battles and political mistrust.
