Epstein Files Fallout: Bill Clinton Skips Testimony, Risks Contempt of Congress

January 13, 2026 —

Washington, D.C. — In a dramatic escalation that struck at the heart of Washington’s political elite, former President Bill Clinton refused to appear today for a scheduled deposition in the House Oversight Committee’s bipartisan probe into financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — prompting Republican leadership to announce they will move next week to hold Clinton in contempt of Congress.

Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Bill Clinton

Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) made it clear that this is not a fringe political stunt — this is accountability. After months of negotiations and accommodations to arrange a deposition, Clinton simply failed to show up for his testimony on Tuesday. Comer said the committee will formalize contempt proceedings in next week’s markup, unleashing one of the few constitutional tools Congress has when a citizen — even a former president — refuses to comply with a lawful subpoena.

“This subpoena was voted on in a bipartisan manner by this committee,” Comer said in remarks following Clinton’s absence, underscoring that Democrats supported compelling documentation from the Clintons months ago.

In a letter posted publicly on social media platforms early Tuesday — co-signed by Bill and Hillary Clinton — the former first couple dismissed the committee’s actions as legally invalid. They even went so far as to accuse Comer of pursuing a process “literally designed to result in our imprisonment” and vowed to forcefully defend themselves.

Regardless of their pronouncements, Comer and House Republicans have made it clear that no one is above the law — and that includes powerful, connected figures who have spent decades evading accountability.

Clinton’s refusal comes amid recent releases of Epstein files enabled by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bipartisan law passed last year at the insistence of Republicans and signed by President Donald Trump. Under that law, unclassified Epstein-related documents have been made public — providing a backdrop to the Oversight Committee’s investigation and heightening pressure on all those subpoenaed.

Republicans have repeatedly emphasized that they are not asserting guilt — only seeking answers. Comer told reporters, “No one’s accusing Bill Clinton of wrongdoing. We just have questions.”

But the Clintons’ refusal has deepened frustration among GOP lawmakers, who see the evasions as emblematic of the broader Washington double standard, where establishment figures avoid scrutiny while ordinary Americans face strict legal expectations.

Hillary Clinton was subpoenaed for Wednesday and is expected — at least by Oversight Republicans — to face the same contempt process if she also refuses to comply.

What’s Next

Once the Oversight Committee votes to hold Bill Clinton in contempt, the matter would go to a full House vote. If approved, it could then be referred to the Department of Justice — potentially setting up a legal showdown that could include fines or even jail time for defying a congressional subpoena.

For Americans watching this unfold, today’s news represents a rare moment where the entrenched political class is forced to reckon with congressional authority — and the promise that no one, not even the politically powerful, can hide from the rule of law.