The Republican-led House Oversight Committee announced plans to hold former President Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress after he failed to appear for a deposition related to the investigation of the late Jeffrey Epstein. House Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., stated that the committee will vote on the contempt charge next week, following Clinton's absence from a scheduled deposition on Tuesday (January 13).

The bipartisan subpoena was issued last year, requiring both Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify about their knowledge of Epstein's activities. However, the Clintons' legal team informed the committee that they would not comply, arguing that the subpoenas lacked a valid legislative purpose and were legally unenforceable. According to the House Oversight Committee, Clinton's deposition was rescheduled multiple times, with the final date set for January 13.

In a letter to Comer, the Clintons accused the committee of engaging in "partisan politics" and emphasized that their focus should be on preventing future crimes like Epstein's. They also criticized the committee for pursuing a process that could lead to imprisonment, calling it an inappropriate use of congressional power.

The potential contempt vote could have significant implications, as holding someone in contempt of Congress can lead to legal consequences, including imprisonment. The Trump Justice Department has previously pursued contempt charges against individuals who failed to comply with congressional subpoenas, such as Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro.

Comer expressed disappointment over Clinton's absence and the lack of Democratic participation in the deposition. He emphasized the bipartisan nature of the subpoena and criticized the Clintons for delaying the process.