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Comer Warns Clintons: Appear for In-Person Epstein Depositions or Face Contempt

House Oversight Chairman James Comer has ordered Bill and Hillary Clinton to appear in person for depositions in the committee’s Epstein investigation, warning refusal could prompt contempt of Congress. The Clintons’ attorney proposed submitting written answers instead, but Comer rejected that proposal. Depositions are scheduled for Dec. 17 (Bill Clinton) and Dec. 18 (Hillary Clinton). The move follows the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and recent document releases tied to Epstein’s estate.

05:14 AM, 11/22/2025Politics
Comer Warns Clintons: Appear for In-Person Epstein Depositions or Face Contempt

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has pressed former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to appear in person for depositions in the committee’s probe of financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network — warning that refusal could prompt contempt of Congress proceedings.

Comer issued subpoenas for in-person testimony in August. On Nov. 3, the Clintons’ attorney, David Kendall, proposed that his clients provide written answers instead, describing that approach as "the most efficient and equitable way to proceed." Comer rejected the offer as insufficient and reiterated that live testimony is required.

"Given their history with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, any attempt by the Clintons to avoid sitting for a deposition would be in defiance of lawful subpoenas and grounds to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings," Comer wrote in a letter accompanying his statement.

Comer has scheduled Bill Clinton’s deposition for Dec. 17 and Hillary Clinton’s for Dec. 18. He said further delays or substitution of written responses would be treated as noncompliance with a lawful subpoena.

Bill Clinton has acknowledged traveling on Epstein’s private jet but has denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island. In his 2024 memoir, Citizen, he said he regretted meeting Epstein. To date, he has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Comer’s letter followed the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation directing the Department of Justice to disclose unclassified records and investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including files that reference individuals named in earlier cases, trafficking allegations, internal DOJ communications, and materials related to the investigation into Epstein’s death.

The push for greater disclosure intensified when Democrats published three emails from Epstein’s estate that mentioned President Donald Trump; Republicans responded by releasing more than 20,000 pages of Epstein-related documents. Officials have said the documents themselves appear authentic, but statements attributed to Epstein in the emails remain unverified and do not, by themselves, allege wrongdoing by Trump.

Some newly disclosed records also reference Bill Clinton. For example, a 2015 email from Epstein asserted that Bill Clinton "NEVER EVER" visited his island. The Clintons’ legal team maintains they have little to add to the committee’s investigation and can provide information on paper, while Comer insists in-person testimony is necessary to the committee’s oversight work.

Next steps: The committee has asked Kendall to confirm the Clintons’ availability for the scheduled depositions. If the Clintons refuse to appear, Comer has signaled he will consider contempt proceedings.

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