Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are refusing to comply with Congressional subpoenas to testify before the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
The Dodge
As reported on Wednesday’s AM Update, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) had set a Tuesday deadline for the former president and a Wednesday deadline for the former first lady to participate.
Hours before Tuesday’s scheduled appearance, the Clintons submitted a joint letter to the chairman indicating they do not intend to show up. “Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles, and its people no matter the consequences. For us, now is that time,” the missive reads, in part.
The Clintons maintain they have no relevant knowledge and are challenging Chairman Comer’s refusal to accept a sworn statement instead of testimony. “You will say it is not our decision to make, but we have made it,” they wrote. “Now, you have to make yours.”
Clinton lawyers submitting an eight-page letter to the committee outlining the reasons they say the subpoenas issued to their clients are “invalid and legally unenforceable.” According to the legal team, in-person testimony serves no purpose other than to “harass and embarrass” the Clintons. “The testimony sought by the subpoenas has no pertinence to the stated purpose of the committee’s investigation,” the attorneys claim, arguing Comer has failed to explain why the couple’s testimony would be relevant.
Comer Claps Back
Chairman Comer held up a large binder in front of reporters on the Hill Tuesday morning while speaking about the line of questioning the committee intended to pursue.
“One reason I think most Americans want President Clinton to answer some questions is because Jeffrey Epstein visited the White House 17 times while Bill Clinton was president. I’ve been in Congress nine years. I think I’ve been to the White House nine times in nine years,” he said. “Epstein was in the White House double the amount of time that I was under one president. And then we know that Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane somewhere around 27 times after the presidency.”
“No one’s accusing Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing,” Comer clarified. “We just have questions, and that’s why the Democrats voted along with Republicans to subpoena Bill Clinton.”
Even so, Comer said House Dems joined the former president in not showing up for the scheduled deposition, casting doubt on their professed concern in matters concerning Epstein. “Not a single Democrat showed up today. Not a single Democrat,” he told reporters. “The ones that have press conferences on the Capitol steps and talk about how they’re trying to get justice for the victims and all that – it just seems like they only care about questioning Republicans.
To that point, Comer said former Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta and former Attorney General Bill Barr have both submitted to “a grilling” from the committee. “But for whatever reason, President Clinton didn’t show up and the Democrats on the committee don’t seem to have a problem,” he noted.
What Comes Next
The New York Times reported the Clintons have beefed up their legal team by hiring a lawyer who previously worked under Chairman Comer on the Oversight Committee. Comer, meanwhile, announced he will move next week to hold President Clinton in contempt of Congress and will seek similar action against Secretary Clinton assuming she also follows through in dodging her deposition.
Will Chamberlain, senior counsel at Article 3 Project, told AM Update what he believes will follow. “It’s going to go for a criminal referral by James Comer on the floor of the House. And if that passes, which I expect it will, DOJ is going to prosecute,” he explained. “Remember that both Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro got prosecuted for the exact same thing, defying a congressional subpoena. So, I see no reason why the Clintons would avoid their fate.”
Bannon was convicted in July 2022 on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 riot. He served four months in prison. Former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro was also convicted of criminal contempt of Congress and served four months.
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