Contempt of Congress charges loom for Bill Clinton
Contempt of Congress charges are now looming for former President Bill Clinton after he failed to appear for a deposition requested by the House Oversight Committee in its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
(NBC)- Contempt of Congress charges are now looming for former President Bill Clinton after he failed to appear for a deposition requested by the House Oversight Committee in its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer confirmed Clinton did not show up as scheduled.
“He did not show up today,” Comer said.
The committee says it is considering the rare step of pursuing contempt charges after Clinton declined to testify. The former president appears in a series of photos and records connected to Epstein but has long denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
“No one’s accusing Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing. We just have questions, and that’s why the Democrats voted along with Republicans to subpoena Bill Clinton,” Comer said.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was scheduled to appear before the committee as well. However, in a letter to the House Oversight Chair, both Clintons declined, saying they had nothing to add and calling the subpoenas legally invalid.
In the letter, the Clintons wrote, “Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences. For us, now is that time.”
Some Democrats argue the Clintons should be allowed to respond in writing, as others have, while also pressing the Justice Department to release the full Epstein files.
“And then we’ll be able to determine all that we need to know,” said Representative Daniel Goldman of New York.
However, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California, who helped lead the push to release the files, says Clinton should testify in person.
“Everyone involved should be providing an explanation, and I have conducted this in a way that doesn’t single out Republicans or Democrats,” Khanna said.
The conflicting views highlight a high-profile push for answers as the Epstein investigation continues.
