A Republican lawmaker is vowing to begin contempt-of-Congress proceedings against former President Bill Clinton after he failed to show up on Tuesday to testify before a committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer told reporters he would start proceedings against Clinton next week, and could do the same against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton if she fails to answer questions on Wednesday.
The committee had issued subpoenas for both Clintons to testify about the late convicted sex offender. Lawyers for the Clintons called the subpoenas unenforceable, and said they had already provided the limited information they had about Epstein.
Bill Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing by survivors of Epstein's abuse, and has denied knowledge of his sex offending.
In a statement on Tuesday, Comer said the subpoenas to the Clintons were voted on in a bipartisan manner. He expressed frustration over the delays in scheduling testimony, emphasizing that the committee had communicated extensively with Clinton's legal team.
The Clintons claim that the subpoenas are politically motivated attempts to embarrass their political rivals, asserting that they have cooperated with the investigation.
Photos released by the U.S. Department of Justice show Bill Clinton with Epstein on several occasions dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s, before Epstein's criminal activities came to light.
Congress has the authority to detain individuals until they comply with subpoenas or refer cases for prosecution for contempt. Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor that can result in significant fines and imprisonment.
Lawmakers from both parties aim to uncover the details of Epstein's connections with influential figures. Recent legislative efforts have mandated the Justice Department to disclose further files related to Epstein's investigations.
