The long-running fight over the Jeffrey Epstein files took a sharp turn on Wednesday, and this time it put Bill and Hillary Clinton squarely in the spotlight.
What began as a slow-burning investigation has now escalated into a high-stakes political clash that Republicans say is about accountability, and Democrats dismiss as pure spectacle.
Votes that signal serious intent
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee pushed forward resolutions to hold both former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in criminal contempt of Congress.
The votes were decisive, if not entirely along party lines.
Bill Clinton’s resolution passed 34–8–2, while Hillary Clinton’s cleared the committee 28–15–1.
Notably, nine Democrats crossed over to support the measure against Bill Clinton, compared with just three who backed the resolution targeting Hillary Clinton.
The split underscored how differently members viewed the two cases, even within the same party.
Comer draws a hard line
Committee chairman James Comer argued that the Clintons had flatly ignored lawful subpoenas tied to questions about their connections to Epstein.
While the former first couple’s legal team said they were open to cooperating, Comer wasn’t buying it.
He brushed off months of back-and-forth negotiations as nothing more than a delay strategy, accusing the Clintons of trying to drag talks out until a new Congress could potentially derail the Republican-led probe.
A rejected compromise behind closed doors
In an effort to avoid contempt charges, the Clintons’ lawyers floated a proposal: Bill Clinton would sit down for a private meeting in New York, without an official transcript.
Comer rejected the idea outright, saying it fell far short of what Congress had demanded.
A Clinton spokesman fired back on social media, insisting the couple never refused to testify on the record.
The spokesman argued that the dispute wasn’t about transcripts at all, accusing Comer of deflecting attention away from other figures tied to Epstein.
Democrats cry foul over political theater
Democrats on the committee pushed back hard, framing the contempt resolutions as more about headlines than truth.
California Representative Dave Min went so far as to vote “present” on both measures, calling the effort political theater rather than real oversight.
When asked about Min’s unusual vote, Comer shrugged it off, saying he wasn’t even sure why “present” was an option, though he joked it was probably better than a no.
The hearing’s main event
Wednesday’s hearing zeroed in on whether the Clintons should be compelled to testify about Epstein.
Republicans insisted no one should be above congressional scrutiny.
Democrats countered that the focus on the Clintons ignored broader, more pressing questions surrounding the Epstein case.
Still, Comer stressed that he wanted testimony from anyone with relevant information, regardless of party or status.
Ghislaine Maxwell enters the picture
In a development that drew attention from both sides, Comer announced that Ghislaine Maxwell is scheduled to sit for a congressional deposition on February 9.
He acknowledged his staff had been trying for months to secure her testimony.
At the same time, Comer conceded that Maxwell’s lawyers have made it clear she plans to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights.
Even so, he said he hopes she changes her mind, adding that her testimony could be crucial.
Democrats claim credit for Maxwell’s summons
Ranking Democrat Robert Garcia quickly seized on the Maxwell announcement as a win for his party.
In a statement posted on X, he said the deposition only happened because of sustained Democratic pressure.
Garcia also accused the Justice Department of giving Maxwell preferential treatment, arguing that delays have allowed a “cover-up” to continue behind the scenes.
Frustration over unreleased Epstein files
Democrats attempted to widen the scope of the contempt fight by including the Department of Justice itself.
Despite the Epstein Files Transparency Act becoming law last November under President Donald Trump, large portions of the files remain sealed.
Ohio Representative Shontel Brown told the committee that roughly 99 percent of the documents are still being held by the DOJ.
Even Comer wants faster disclosure
On that point, Comer found rare common ground with Democrats.
He acknowledged that the pace of document production has been slower than lawmakers would like, even under Attorney General Pam Bondi.
While he said the Justice Department is releasing records, Comer urged it to move more quickly, signaling that the battle over the Epstein files — and who should answer for them — is far from over.
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