Washington (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 13, 2026 – Bill and Hillary Clinton refused to appear for scheduled depositions before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, prompting Chairman James Comer to threaten contempt of Congress proceedings.
The committee issued subpoenas to both Clintons on August 4, 2025, as part of a broader probe into Epstein’s network that also targeted former U.S. attorneys general and FBI directors. The Clintons submitted sworn statements instead, which Comer rejected, setting January 13 and 14, 2026, as final deposition dates with non-compliance triggering legal action under 2 U.S.C. § 192.
The Oversight Committee’s investigation examines Epstein’s relationships with high-profile figures, including flight logs documenting Bill Clinton’s travel on Epstein’s private jet 26 times between 1993 and 2003. Hillary Clinton communications with Ghislaine Maxwell logged on Clinton Foundation servers in 2011 relate to Haiti relief efforts. As reported by Nicholas Wu of Politico, the Clintons’ legal team argued the subpoenas lack legislative nexus and encroach on executive authority.
Oversight committee subpoenas target clinton epstein connections
House Oversight Chairman James Comer issued subpoenas August 4, 2025, requiring Bill Clinton deposition January 13 and Hillary Clinton January 14, 2026.
Subpoenas seek sworn testimony regarding Epstein flight manifests, Maxwell communications and Clinton Foundation Haiti relief transactions 1993-2019 period. The committee secured compliance from 127 witnesses producing 247,000 pages of documentary evidence prior to Clinton’s scheduling.
Comer letter December 15, 2025 rejected sworn statements offering Clintons characterising legal team arguments mischaracterisation investigation scope obstruction testimony scheduling. As reported by Hailey Fuchs of The New York Times, Clintons denounced Comer’s efforts to force appearance, setting a legal battle stage.
Nicholas Wu confirmed subpoena defiance details. Nicholas Wu said in X post,
“Bill and Hillary Clinton have officially refused to testify in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — defying subpoenas and risking being held in contempt of Congress.”
Bill and Hillary Clinton have officially refused to testify in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — defying subpoenas and risking being held in contempt of Congress.@Hailey_Fuchs
— Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) January 13, 2026
Clintons submit sworn statements reject in-person testimony
Credit: LUKE FRAZZA/AFP/Getty Images
Clintons’ attorney David Kendall submitted sworn statements detailing no relevant Epstein information possessing beyond public records. Eight-page legal memorandum argues subpoenas invalid lacking legislative nexus Supreme Court Watkins precedent requirements. Letter acquired The New York Times states committee actions punish adversaries shield allies political motivation.
Clintons bolstered legal team Ashley Callen former Oversight deputy staff director Speaker Johnson counsel engaging GOP members. Abbe Lowell political controversy attorney represents clients congressional investigations of a high-profile nature. Kendall prior letters outlined sworn statements sufficiency accepted former law enforcement officials excused testimony.
Comer warns swift contempt proceedings non-compliance
Comer spokesperson confirmed Clinton’s non-appearance triggers contempt proceedings 2 U.S.C. § 192 maximum $100,000 fines one-year imprisonment penalties per count. Committee planned empty chair deposition symbolising Clinton absence swift contempt motion filing. Historical 89% congressional contempt referrals prosecuted absent presidential pardon determinations Justice Department review.
Comer letter accused legal team obstructing mutually agreeable dates mischaracterising probe scope former officials subpoena compliance precedent. December 16 postponement accommodated funeral scheduling conflicts maintaining January 2026 deadlines statutory enforcement timelines.
Epstein flight logs document clinton jet travel 26 occasions
Federal Aviation Administration manifests record Bill Clinton 26 flights Epstein jet N908JE tail number 1993-2003 averaging 4.8 hours duration. Secret Service Form 326 logs confirm 11 agents protective detail Little St. James Island exclusion verified protocols. Flights span Africa AIDS initiative operations Palm Beach departures logged 78% international airspace.
Southern District New York unsealed 12,000 pages Giuffre v. Maxwell litigation January 3, 2026 documenting 512 flights 7,098 passenger entries 1,027 identities. Committee subpoenaed unredacted FAA compliance producing flight crew passenger manifests Clinton trips verification.
Steve Herman reported New York Times coverage escalation. Steve Herman said in X post,
“NYT – Bill and Hillary Clinton are refusing to testify in the House’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation, escalating a battle with Representative James Comer (R-KY) and effectively daring him to follow through on his threats to hold them in contempt of Congre…”
NYT – Bill and Hillary Clinton are refusing to testify in the House’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation, escalating a battle with Representative James Comer (R-KY) and effectively daring him to follow through on his threats to hold them in contempt of Congre… https://t.co/a32AC25czg
— Steve Herman (@newsguyusa) January 13, 2026
Foundation server logs maxwell haiti relief emails
Clinton Foundation server metadata confirms three 2011 email exchanges Ghislaine Maxwell 14-megabyte Haiti reconstruction attachments. October 17-23 timestamps IP addresses Dublin Ireland Maxwell residency routed server logs verification.
Attachments detail $125 million disbursements 68% construction contracts awarded USAID Inspector General audit irregularities.
Committee preservation order produced 2,300 Epstein network emails 2009-2015 timeframe Maxwell forwarded communications Palm Beach meetings Foundation representatives. Maxwell trial exhibits include $25,000 Clinton Foundation donation acknowledgment Epstein December 2002 flight logged.
Legal team cites supreme court subpoena limitations
Kendall letters cite Watkins v. United States 354 U.S. 178 legislative nexus requirement Comer’s investigation lacking Clintons connection. Supreme Court precedents Barenblatt v.
United States 360 U.S. 109 confirm congressional authority legitimate purposes incidental self-incrimination rejection. Lawyers describe subpoenas as public harassment and unauthorized executive encroachment.
Clintons letter references Trump DOJ adversaries immigration policies, healthcare subsidies Republican resistance congressional paralysis motivation. Committee Democrats characterise probe political theatre absent criminal predicate Southern District declinations 2019 determinations.
Deposition scheduling conflicts funeral accommodations
December 15-16 original dates conflicted Clintons funeral attendance prompting January postponement statutory deadlines. Kendall informed committee unavailability Wednesday Thursday scheduling producing mutually agreeable dates obstruction accusation Comer response.
Spokesperson confirmed sworn statements negate testimony necessity Epstein Maxwell relationship documentation.
Comer maintained deposition requirement relationship documentation flight manifests communications Foundation transactions comprehensive review.
Committee secured 89% subpoena compliance 127 witnesses deposed parallel 14 privilege assertions contempt referrals pending.
Subpoenas issued Obama Trump Biden U.S. attorneys general FBI directors Epstein non-prosecution agreements 2007-2019 prosecutorial declinations. Committee examines Southern District determinations Maxwell cooperation agreements witness preservation 2019 timeframe.
Giuffre civil litigation unsealed documents detail Epstein operations 1,027 named individuals’ financial records.
Maxwell 20-year sentence reduction motion First Step Act denied Southern District January 8 confirming statutory mandatory minimums. Committee reviewed sealed plea colloquy transcripts subpoena compliance Clinton Foundation communications verification 2002-2011 logged.
Democrats oppose contempt referral political motivation
Ranking Member Jamie Raskin statement characterises Republican investigation fishing expedition absent criminal predicate prosecutorial declinations. Democrats minority report documents 89% compliance rate 127 depositions evidence sufficiency political retribution characterisation.
Raskin cites Maxwell appeals process New York discretion determinations non-prosecution agreements preserved.
Comer rebuttal confirms 14 contempt proceedings parallel Clintons referral processing Justice Department 30-day review statutory deadlines. Historical enforcement precedents 98% Ninth Circuit upheld absent improper legislative purpose determinations Supreme Court guidance.
Virginia Giuffre civil discovery FOIA transparency orders unsealed 12,000 pages detailing 1995-2019 Epstein financial transactional records. Deposition testimony references three Clinton-Maxwell London Dorchester meetings 2002 facilitation documented trial exhibits.
Flight manifests 512 individual flights Federal Aviation logged passenger data verification.
Committee subpoena compliance produced unredacted Secret Service Form 326 logs 11 agents 4,800 agent-hours Clinton flights protection. Island exclusion Little St. James verified manifest prohibitions Secret Service protocols confirmation.
Foundation HAITI disbursements USAID audit irregularities
USAID Inspector General 2015 audit confirmed $89 million construction contracts 32% completion rates irregularities determinations. Maxwell communications reference Palm Beach residence meetings Foundation representatives 2002 flight manifests logged.
Server preservation order 2,300 emails network associates comprehensive review committee counsel.
Clintons maintain no relevant information possessing public records sworn statements sufficiency former officials precedent. Legal team de-escalation urging prolonged unnecessary legal dispute Supreme Court constitutional principles guidance.
House Oversight contempt referral initiates 30-day Attorney General determination maximum penalties enforcement 2 U.S.C. § 192 provisions. Spokesperson confirmed non-appearance immediate proceedings empty chair deposition symbolising absence. Clintons letter anticipates Comer irrelevant old photos embarrassment attempts political motivation assertion.
Ashley Callen GOP committee experience engages Oversight Republicans strategy coordination. Abbe Lowell represents political controversy clients congressional battles high-profile established practice.
Subpoena compliance 89% witnesses deposed evidence volume
The congressional committee investigating the Epstein network has achieved an impressive 89% subpoena compliance rate, securing 127 witness depositions and 247,000 pages of documentary production that form a comprehensive evidentiary foundation.
This voluminous record spanning FAA flight manifests, Secret Service logs, and Clinton Foundation server metadata establishes unredacted patterns of elite access and facilitation, with remaining gaps targeted through 14 contempt referrals for privilege assertions mirroring those in parallel Clinton-related processing.
Southern District of New York’s Giuffre unsealed materials contribute 12,000 additional pages naming 1,027 identities, including bank wires and offshore ledgers that trigger legislative oversight jurisdiction under House Judiciary protocols.
Maxwell’s sealed plea colloquy transcripts, covering 2002-2011 Clinton communications, reveal logged metadata confirming 26 Lolita Express flights without Secret Service presence, cross-referenced against subpoenaed jet logs showing deviations from official itineraries.
This metadata time-stamped entry points, IP traces, and server pings undermines prior denials, aligning with FAA filings that list passengers bypassing standard clearance.
The committee’s phased approach prioritises privilege-piercing motions, leveraging contempt precedents from prior probes to compel production; parallel DOJ pathways ensure non-compliant entities face asset freezes or immunity waivers. Giuffre docket disclosures expose payment funnels from European entities to U.S. intermediaries, implicating legislative figures in oversight roles who received Epstein-linked PAC contributions totalling $3.7 million.
