The legal standoff between the Clintons and the House Oversight Committee reached a breaking point on Monday. After months of defiance, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have offered to testify. However, Committee Chair James Comer quickly rejected their proposal, calling it an attempt to “dictate the terms” of lawful subpoenas.
Comer dismissed the Clintons’ offer as insufficient and signaled that he would move forward with criminal contempt of Congress charges. The committee is seeking to hold the pair accountable for skipping scheduled depositions in January. The impasse pushes the House toward an unprecedented floor vote that could result in substantial fines or even incarceration.
“Subpoenas are not mere suggestions; they carry the force of law and require compliance,” Comer said. He insisted that both Bill and Hillary Clinton must sit for sworn depositions before the full committee. Comer argued that the Clintons’ latest proposal was a “last-minute ploy” to avoid transparency.
The Clintons’ legal team had proposed a four-hour transcribed interview for Bill Clinton on “matters related to Epstein.” They also suggested that Hillary Clinton submit a sworn declaration rather than appearing in person. Comer rejected the four-hour limit, describing Bill Clinton as a “loquacious” witness who might try to “run out the clock.”
Attorneys for the Clintons previously called the subpoenas “invalid” and “legally unenforceable.” They accused Comer of using the probe to distract from the administration’s own delays in releasing Epstein files. Despite these criticisms, nine Democrats joined Republicans in the oversight panel to support the contempt charges against the former president.
Comer’s investigation remains focused on Bill Clinton’s documented relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. While the former president has not been accused of any wrongdoing, his well-documented flights on Epstein’s jet have become a central focal point for Republicans. The House Oversight Committee maintains that the Clintons’ testimony