Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton say they will not appear in person before the House Oversight Committee as part of a congressional investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In a joint letter dated January 13, 2026 and addressed to Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the Clintons reject the committee’s request for in-person testimony, saying they will provide written information instead. They accuse the investigation of being driven by partisan motives and argue the process is “literally designed to result in our imprisonment.”
“Now is that time” to resist, Clintons say
The letter frames their refusal as part of a broader warning about what they describe as mounting threats to democratic norms over the past year. The Clintons list a series of actions they characterize as alarming, including:
- citizens allegedly seized by masked federal agents
- deportations of students and scientists without due process
- pardons for individuals involved in the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol siege
- dismantling of national security agencies
- threats toward universities, media companies, and law firms over free-speech disputes
- deployments of U.S. troops in domestic towns and cities
- use of the Justice Department against political opponents
They also cite a recent incident they say underscores the urgency of resistance: the fatal shooting of an unarmed mother by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
ICE shooting in Minneapolis referenced in letter
The Clintons point to the death of Renee Nicole Good, described as a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, who was shot in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. According to the account in the letter, Good was unarmed at the time. The shooting, they say, has prompted protests, resignations from federal prosecutors, and calls from lawmakers for accountability.
Dispute over scope and conduct of the Epstein investigation
The Oversight Committee’s inquiry, launched in 2025, is examining the Department of Justice’s role in Epstein’s prosecutions and any potential cover-ups. Epstein, a financier convicted of sex trafficking, died in federal custody in 2019.
The letter addresses Bill Clinton’s past connection to Epstein, noting that Clinton flew on Epstein’s private plane multiple times in the early 2000s for humanitarian work. The Clintons again deny any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s criminal conduct.
They also criticize Comer’s handling of the probe, claiming:
- Comer subpoenaed eight people in addition to them but dismissed seven without requiring testimony
- the committee has interviewed only two people since the investigation began
- two law firms provided a legal analysis arguing the subpoenas are invalid, and the Clintons want that analysis released publicly
- Comer has not used oversight powers to compel full DOJ disclosure of Epstein-related records, despite bipartisan pressure that led to partial releases in 2025
Contempt proceedings threatened after missed deposition
Bill Clinton was scheduled to sit for a deposition on January 13, 2026, but did not appear. Comer announced the committee would move toward contempt of Congress proceedings. Hillary Clinton’s deposition is scheduled for the following day.
Comer has said the subpoena was unanimously approved by the bipartisan committee and followed five months of negotiations. If a contempt vote advances through the committee and the full House, it could be referred to the DOJ for possible prosecution—an outcome that is uncommon and often politically contentious, particularly involving former senior officials.
Clintons offer written responses and warn of broader fallout
In their letter, the Clintons argue that Congress should focus on identifying failures that allowed Epstein’s crimes to continue, rather than what they call a partisan exercise. They say their written submission provides details comparable to—or greater than—what other subpoenaed individuals have offered.
They also warn that pushing contempt proceedings could derail congressional work at a time when, they claim, the country faces urgent needs.
The dispute marks a sharper escalation in the investigation, which the letter notes has already produced more than 33,000 pages of DOJ records released in September 2025, and highlights the deep political divisions surrounding congressional oversight of the Epstein case.
