House Moves to Hold Bill, Hillary Clinton in Contempt for Defying Subpoenas

This video documents a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee markup meeting where Republicans advanced resolutions recommending contempt charges against former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

According to the committee chair, the Clintons allegedly refused to comply with bipartisan subpoenas issued in July 2025 requiring them to appear for depositions as part of the committee’s investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell criminal cases. Fox News reports that the committee issued the subpoenas after Republicans and Democrats on the federal law enforcement subcommittee unanimously approved them. The chair alleges that after more than five months of negotiations, the Clintons submitted brief, bulleted written statements instead of appearing for in-person testimony, which the committee had explicitly rejected.

According to Fox News, the chair argued that the Clintons’ documented relationships with Epstein and Maxwell—evidenced by photographs, flight logs, and wedding invitations—made in-person testimony essential. The chair alleges that Epstein visited the Clinton White House 17 times during President Clinton’s tenure and that Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane approximately 27 times after leaving office. Fox News reports that the chair emphasized no witness, including a former president, may willfully defy a congressional subpoena without consequence.

Democratic committee members challenged the effort as selective enforcement and political theater. According to the video, Ranking Member Garcia claimed the Clintons offered to provide signed declarations under penalty of perjury and indicated willingness to meet in alternative formats with recorded transcripts, but the Republican majority rejected these proposals. Garcia allegedly argued that other witnesses—former Attorneys General Holder, Lynch, Sessions, and Garland, as well as FBI Director Comey—were allowed to submit written statements without contempt proceedings, suggesting inconsistent standards.

Democrats also raised concerns about the Department of Justice’s production of Epstein files. Fox News reports that committee member Summer Lee alleged the DOJ released only 1% of millions of documents despite a legal deadline passing more than a month prior. According to the video, Democrats moved to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt for allegedly failing to comply with a bipartisan subpoena issued in July 2025, but the chair ruled that motion improper as it was not on the agenda.

The committee also discussed Ghislaine Maxwell’s subpoena status. According to Fox News, the chair stated that Maxwell’s attorneys indicated she would invoke the Fifth Amendment but that a deposition was scheduled for February 9th. Democrats argued this represented unequal treatment compared to the contempt resolution against the Clintons.

Republican members, including Representative Mace, framed the investigation as nonpartisan victim advocacy. Fox News reports Mace emphasized the seriousness of human trafficking and sex crimes, urging colleagues to depoliticize the proceedings.

In Fox News’s Own Words

“Subpoenas are not mere suggestions. They carry the force of law and require compliance.”

“No witness, not a former president or a private citizen, may willfully defy a duly issued congressional subpoena without consequence.”

“The committee does not take this action lightly, but we must do what is necessary to uphold Congress’s investigative authority.”

The contempt resolutions advanced during this markup represent a significant escalation in the committee’s enforcement of subpoena compliance, though the ultimate impact depends on whether the full House votes to support the contempt charges.