Bill and Hillary Clinton Testify After Contempt Showdown in House Epstein Investigation

Months of Resistance Ended With Sworn Depositions

Bill and Hillary Clinton ultimately avoided an expected full House contempt vote after agreeing to appear for sworn depositions in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

The confrontation had escalated for months after the former president and former secretary of state declined to appear for previously scheduled testimony.

By January 2026, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform had voted on a bipartisan basis to advance contempt resolutions against both Clintons for failing to comply with subpoenas issued the previous year.

The situation appeared headed toward an extraordinary confrontation on the House floor.

Instead, negotiations produced an agreement in early February that suspended the contempt push and required both Clintons to sit for transcribed and filmed depositions later that month.

The Subpoenas Were Issued in August 2025

The dispute began after Republicans and Democrats on a House Oversight subcommittee unanimously approved a motion in July 2025 authorizing subpoenas for multiple witnesses connected to the committee’s examination of Epstein-related matters.

Oversight Chairman James Comer issued subpoenas to Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton on August 5, 2025.

The committee was examining matters connected to Epstein, Maxwell and the government’s handling of investigations surrounding them.

The Clintons were not the only prominent former government officials subpoenaed as part of the inquiry.

The committee also sought testimony from several former attorneys general and FBI officials as it attempted to build a broader record surrounding the handling of the Epstein case.