The Bad Guys
By Watertown Post Staff
WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton formally refused this week to appear before Congress in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, setting up what could become one of the most explosive legal and political confrontations of the year.
The Clintons were subpoenaed by Rep. James Comer, the Republican chairman of the committee, as part of his inquiry into Epstein’s network of powerful political, financial, and international connections. Mr. Clinton was ordered to appear Tuesday and Mrs. Clinton Wednesday. Neither showed.
Instead, the Clintons sent an eight-page legal filing declaring the subpoenas “invalid and legally unenforceable,” followed by a separate joint letter that escalated the standoff into open political warfare.
“For us, now is that time,” the Clintons wrote, saying they were prepared to fight what they described as an abuse of congressional power.
Sworn statements — but no testimony
The Clintons say they have already cooperated by providing sworn written statements, similar to those submitted by multiple former law-enforcement officials in the investigation. They insist they have no information relevant to Epstein’s crimes.
But Comer has demanded live, behind-closed-doors depositions, a move that would give Republicans the ability to question the couple directly and potentially refer them for contempt of Congress if they refuse to answer.
The Clintons accuse Comer of deliberately trying to turn the investigation into a political spectacle.
They argue that Comer is attempting to redirect scrutiny away from President Trump’s past association with Epstein and his administration’s handling of Epstein-related records — and instead place the spotlight on Democrats.
“Designed to result in our imprisonment”
In their joint letter, the Clintons accused Comer of using Congress as a weapon.
They wrote that the process appeared “literally designed to result in our imprisonment,” warning that Congress was being turned into a tool for political retaliation.
They also said they expect Comer to release “irrelevant, decades-old photos” in order to publicly embarrass them — a tactic often used in high-profile investigations to shape public perception.
On Tuesday morning, House Oversight officials were preparing to stage an empty-chair deposition for Bill Clinton, a symbolic move that would immediately lead into contempt proceedings.
A committee spokeswoman confirmed the plan.
“If the Clintons do not appear for their depositions, the House Oversight Committee will begin contempt of Congress proceedings,” she said.
Heavy-hitting legal team
The Clintons have assembled a high-powered legal defense, including Ashley Callen, a former Republican congressional lawyer who previously served on Comer’s own committee staff, and Abbe Lowell, one of Washington’s most experienced political defense attorneys.
Their lawyers argue that Congress has no valid legislative purpose for forcing the Clintons to testify and that the subpoenas violate constitutional limits on congressional investigations.
They cited Supreme Court rulings that require a clear connection — a “nexus” — between what Congress is investigating and the people it subpoenas. The Clintons, they argue, do not meet that standard.
“This is an effort to publicly harass and embarrass President and Secretary Clinton,” their attorneys wrote.
A showdown with real consequences
Now the burden shifts back to Comer.
The Clintons have dared Congress to move forward with contempt charges, which could trigger a legal fight over whether Congress even has the authority to compel their testimony.
“But we have made our decision,” the Clintons wrote. “Now you have to make yours.”
If the House votes to hold them in contempt, the case would likely move into federal court — turning what began as an Epstein inquiry into a full-scale constitutional clash between Congress and two of the most powerful figures in modern Democratic politics.
And with Epstein’s shadow still hanging over Washington, the political fallout is only just beginning.
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