Friday, January 16, 2026- In a sharply worded public statement, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer of “lying with impunity” in the ongoing congressional inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein.
The Clintons pushed back after Comer threatened to hold them in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify, releasing sworn written declarations they say fully detail their limited knowledge of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. In their declarations, both Bill and Hillary Clinton deny any personal knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities and say they never visited his private estate in the U.S. Virgin Islands, while reiterating they have provided everything they have to offer under penalty of perjury.
The clash has quickly escalated into a full‑blown political confrontation. Comer and House Republicans have insisted that in‑person testimony is necessary to complete the committee’s investigation, warning that repeated refusals to appear could trigger contempt proceedings. The Clintons’ refusal comes amid broader scrutiny of how various government officials and agencies handled Epstein’s offenses, with critics on both sides of the aisle questioning whether the process is politically motivated or genuinely aimed at ensuring accountability for Epstein’s victims.
For observers and political stakeholders, this standoff signals a high‑stakes moment in Washington. The dispute tests the limits of congressional subpoena power against former senior officials and highlights ongoing tensions over transparency and oversight in high‑profile investigations. With contempt votes looming and both sides digging in, the outcome could shape how future inquiries involving powerful figures are conducted and impact public confidence in institutional checks and balances.
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