House Democrats on the Oversight Committee broke ranks on Wednesday to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress after the couple defied subpoenas to appear before the panel and discuss their ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Nine Democrats on the panel voted with every single Republican to hold the former president in contempt. Meanwhile, only three Democrats crossed the aisle to hold the former secretary of state in contempt.
“The Committee does not take this action lightly. But subpoenas are not mere suggestions; they carry the force of law and require compliance,” Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said. “Former President Clinton and Secretary Clinton were legally required to appear for depositions before this Committee. They refused”
If the measures pass the full House, it would be up to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia to prosecute. The Clintons have argued that the subpoenas are invalid and legally unenforceable.
Not every Democrat supported the resolution. Some, such as Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the ranking member of the Oversight Committee, focused on Attorney General Pam Bondi’s failure to comply with legislation passed by Congress last year that mandates the Justice Department to release all of the Epstein Files.
“Where is the pressure to get Pam Bondi to release the files? Garcia said. “Instead, you’re focusing the committee’s focus on whoever you perceive to be your enemies and the enemies of Donald Trump.”
Garcia and Democrats attempted to amend the Clinton contempt resolution to hold Bondi in contempt as well. The amendment was ultimately voted down by Republicans on the committee.
Comer opened up debate on the contempt vote with posters placed around the hearing room featuring Bill Clinton with Epstein. Also visible was a blown-up social media post by Garcia that said, “No one is above the law.”
“Since issuing the subpoenas, this committee has acted in good faith. We’ve offered flexibility on scheduling,” Comer said. “The response we received was not cooperation, but defiance, marked by repeated delays, excuses, and obstruction.”
Ahead of the vote, Comer announced the committee had secured an agreement to depose Ghislaine Maxwell next month. Maxwell’s lawyers have said their client will plead the Fifth to prevent self-incrimination.
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The Clintons were set to appear before the committee last week, but they no-showed for their depositions. Comer said he had been in contact with their lawyers for months, trying to work out a date, but the Clintons were not complying.
The Clintons wrote a letter to Comer saying they gave the committee the “little information we have,” as it points to the government’s “failure” in investigating Epstein’s crimes and a slew of priorities of the Trump administration.
“The decisions you have made, and the priorities you have set as chairman regarding the Epstein investigation, have prevented progress in discovering the facts about the government’s role,” the couple wrote.
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The Clintons said they are prepared to “forcibly defend” themselves.
“Indeed, bringing the Republicans’ cruel agenda to a standstill while you work harder to pass a contempt charge against us than you have done in your investigation this past year would be our contribution to fighting the madness,” they wrote.