Woody Allen famously said, “80% of success in life is just showing up.” When it comes to Bill and Hillary Clinton and possible congressional contempt, it may be 100%. The two politicians have decided to defy lawful subpoenas issued by the House. For the House Oversight Committee, now is also the time for contempt proceedings.
Chairman James Comer and the House Oversight Committee are investigating the Jeffrey Epstein controversy and have subpoenaed the Clintons to testify. Neither has been accused of criminal conduct.
Bill Clinton failed to appear previously and Hillary Clinton refused to appear on Wednesday. Instead, they issued a chest-thumping letter of defiance, declaring:
“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 Committee is likely to agree that “now is that time” and the consequences are the start of contempt proceedings.
On August 5, 2025, the Committee approved the subpoenas. Former President Clinton’s deposition was initially set for October 14, 2025. It was then moved to December 17, 2025.
In December, Comer postponed the depositions for a second time to allow the Clintons to attend a funeral. However, he said that their counsel, David Kendall, then declined to offer any alternative dates.
The vote to issue the subpoena was taken on an unusual bipartisan basis for the often divided Committee. Even Democratic members on the Oversight Committee, such as Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said that the Clintons must comply.
There was a time when subpoenas were viewed as more than discretionary matters. Counsel has insisted that the testimony is unnecessary and a distraction. However, that is not a ground that any court would view as justification for knowingly and repeatedly ignoring a lawfully issued subpoena.
The position of the Clintons seems a repeat of the defiance of Hunter Biden, who chose to hold a press conference outside of Congress rather than appear inside for his deposition. He was accompanied by Democratic members like Eric Swalwell (D., Cal.).
At one time, Democrats were aghast at those who might defy congressional subpoenas.
President Biden maintained that defying subpoenas cannot be tolerated. When subpoenas were issued to Republicans during the House’s Jan. 6 investigation, Biden declared: “I hope that the committee goes after them and holds them accountable criminally.”
Two Trump associates – Steven Bannon and Peter Navarro – refused to appear in the House and were quickly held in contempt by a majority of the House, including Swalwell.
I wrote at the time that these individuals were also undeniably in contempt of Congress.
Now, however, such defiance is viewed as righteous and somehow excusable by figures such as Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.), who has routinely chosen political over institutional interests.
The defiance could result in a criminal referral for the couple, prosecutions that would mirror those under the Biden Administration.
In 2021, Hillary Clinton mocked Bannon’s indictment for contempt of Congress by saying that she planned for a “restful” weekend as he prepared for possible conviction.
It is an ironic moment. The Clintons are adopting the Bannon strategy that led to his conviction.
At the time of Bannon’s charge, I noted that all he had to do was appear and invoke his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. The Committee would then have had to issue an immunity grant to compel any testimony. The worst thing that you could do is not appear.
That is precisely what the Clintons just did.
In reality, I expect that neither Clinton is losing any sleep over the prospect of a criminal charge. They have spent their career dodging such prosecutions. Of course, this is a Republican-controlled House and Republican Administration.
What is most striking is the lack of any effort to come up with a cognizable defense. The Clintons simply chose open defiance. For those who have denounced a two-tier justice system, there is nothing more entitled and privileged than this letter. Such rules do not apply to the Clintons, who feel that they have the license to decide when they will appear.
They are wrong and, like Bannon, left themselves no viable legal defense. They are simply asserting a type of de facto Clinton immunity that could leave even a sympathetic federal district court judge with no real alternative to trial. David Kendall is an experienced lawyer and perhaps he will reveal a legal defense that escapes me. For the moment, I am baffled by the legal strategy. Indeed, I see no intelligible legal strategy at all in effectively saying that “we simply do not feel like it.”
They seem to be repeating the same pitch that Bill Clinton gave in the Lewinsky matter: “I ask you to turn away from the spectacle of the past seven months, to repair the fabric of our national discourse, and to return our attention to all the challenges and all the promise of the next American century.”
Despite a federal judge finding that Clinton lied under oath, it worked. The problem is that a defendant like Clinton can always argue in a perjury case that “it depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” In this case, it does not depend on what the meaning of the word “testify” is. Whatever the meaning, showing up is a critical element. It is hard to argue that you are not in contempt when you make your contempt for the Committee your defense.
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the author of the forthcoming “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”
At this time WHAT DIFFERENCE does it make, you’ve all seen pictures of Me and the Chica’s at the New Mexico ranch, and of course the pictures my husband’s getting massages on the plane and while relaxing on the Island.
This is nothing more than Fly Fishing trying to catch Moby after Captain Ahab missed out!
Avoidance by presumption!
How nice it must be for witnesses to determine a government investigation is not valid all on their own and therefore simple “decline” a lawful subpoena to appear, lol. So that’s how the law works, huh? lol.
I don’t much about the issues involved but based on their past performance, I certainly hold both the Clintons in contempt.
The Clintons should be forced to testify as should all of the other people in the Epstein files. Bondi, Trump, and Patel should also be forced to testify as to why they are covering up the Epstein files and violating the law. The Clintons are not above the law and neither are the enablers of Trump and the coverup.
I don’t recall Turley giving the same advice to Jim Jordan. All he had to do is show up and plead the 5th. If it’s not that hard perhaps Turley should go ahead and chastise Jordan more strongly or remind MAGA one of their own did defy a congressional subpoena.
facts don’t matter to these fools
You are a crybaby who doesn’t have adequate knowledge to form an appropriate argument.
Your comparison fails because it ignores basic congressional structure. Jim Jordan was subpoenaed by a procedurally compromised, improperly constituted select committee, and he was a sitting member of Congress, not a private witness. He did not “defy” Congress; he challenged the committee’s legitimacy in writing and produced materials, which is a recognized way of contesting authority.
The House Oversight Committee is a permanent committee with expansive, settled subpoena power. When private citizens like the Clintons refuse to comply with a lawful Oversight subpoena, they are on far thinner legal ground. Treating these situations as equivalent isn’t principled analysis; it’s ignorance of how Congress actually works.
Congress can not subpeona sitting congressmen,
further his actions as congressmen are protected under the speech and debate clause.
This is not new.
The House oversight committee just correctly tabled efforts to investigate Rep. Omar.
Color me shocked. 🙄 Nevertheless, most know exactly who these two are now, regardless. Marginalization may be the best way forward in this era of untouchability. If no one or few show up to a protest, it wasn’t much of one, and if people aren’t allowed to lie about that fact with impunity, no amount of money will make a difference. The ultimate punishment for such people might end up being no one taking them seriously anymore, like fallen celebrities or modern British monarchs.
Republicans are aiming to create a spectacle in response to the uncomfortable revelations in the Epstein files. Publicly announcing that the Clintons have been subpoenaed and that they refused to comply serves as effective MAGA propaganda, galvanizing their base.
I found it notable that Professor Turley “forgot” to mention Jim Jordan’s refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena as an act of defiance. If Jordan can ignore such legal demands without consequence, the Clintons might feel justified in doing the same, effectively following his example.
Doesn’t President Clinton have immunity under federal law? During his tenure, former President Trump ensured that sitting and former presidents are protected from certain legal actions, including some subpoenas, through established legal doctrines. Is that not still the case?
“Republicans are aiming to create a spectacle”
Of course they are – as are demorats – what is new ?
” in response to the uncomfortable revelations in the Epstein files.”
Still hunting the great white whale.
Give up X – your not going to catch Trump with the Epstain files.
There is no “there there”.
As to the Clintons – they have become a tar baby – everything sticks.
But they are also mostly politically irrelevant anymore.
The Clintons are no longer significant democrat power brokers.
Going after then is more of an “I told you so ” thing.
The Jordan subpeona was improper – more so that the Navaro and Bannon subpeona.
The Clintons do not have a constitutional claim – Jordan does, Navarro and Bannon did.
With respect to his presidency Bill Clinton does.
With respect to things outside his presidency Neither Clinton does.
“Doesn’t President Clinton have immunity under federal law? ”
For acts during his presidency within the broad pneumbra of official acts.
His conduct on Epstain Island outside of his presidency is not protected.
“During his tenure, former President Trump ensured that sitting and former presidents are protected from certain legal actions, including some subpoenas, through established legal doctrines. Is that not still the case?”
Trump mostly did not “establish” anything – much of that was already established.
Judge Carter decided that Navarro and Bannon cases incorrectly and SCOTUS failed to overrule.
But direct communications between the president and advisors are protected by executive priviledge.
Dear Mr. Turley, I thought is King Ahab and Queen Jezebel can’t hide any longer.
Hillary was just angry when the committee wouldn’t let her bring her basket of deplorables to the hearing.
Life just isn’t worth while if one can’t hate all those bimbo eruptions. A nasty boil about to burst is not a pretty sight to see.
Of all the people implicated in the Epstein fiasco, why are the Republicans only going after the Clintons? And Hillary had nothing to do with it. They should got to the hearing and plead the 5th for all questions.
I see no other path for the Clintons other than what Navarro and Bannon had to go through.
If they don’t appear, I will fully expect to see them in jail.
Anything else will be too obvious as to the blatant privilege they expect to get.
Bill n Hill have a vast treasure trove of bones and skeletons for extortion.
If they were to lock up Bill, he would say he identifies as a woman, cause, well, you know
oh whens your standup you’re soo funny
The Clintons delayed appearing before the committee for months, and then when they could not delay again, they just did not show up and sent that measly letter. They were never going to show. Anyone with any brains knew they were not going to show. They should have been forced to this point the first time they delayed, but the Republicans don’t really seem to have any stomach for forcing them. The Clintons are trying to buy as much time as possible and will continue doing so for as long as possible in the hope of getting to the end of Trump’s term before they can be put on under oath in any forum and then it might all just go away. What are they trying so hard to hide? That is the only reasonable view to take of this.
The indignant, self righteous and arrogant behavior of the Clintons is appalling. They need to be picked up, handcuffed and thrown in jail just like you or I would be. Enough with the holier than though attitudes. They don’t work anymore.
and Jim Jordan, am I right? give me a hell yeah
Here’s an offbeat response. I think that Congress (Senate and House) should take care of all pending business on behalf of the people. Then and only then, should they take on the business of past sins. Why? Because, we all know that if the Democrats should take back Congress, they will spend full time passing spending bills (viva la NGO) and taking out Trump. It’s what they do.
One lengthy comment below claimed that Congress has no power to subpoena anyone outside the government. I really detest that sort of dishonest clutter.
I found this:
“Congress’s subpoena power is not absolute and has significant limitations. A subpoena must serve a “valid legislative purpose” and relate to a subject on which Congress could potentially legislate. Subpoenas cannot be issued solely for law enforcement, to punish individuals, or to expose private affairs without a legitimate legislative basis. The power cannot infringe upon Executive or Judicial branch powers, upholding separation of powers.”
Working from the premise that one of Epstein’s aims was the compromising of US politicians for the purpose of controlling the legislative process, it seems to me that exposing those activities would serve a legitimate legislative purpose. For example – removing compromised members or passing legislation to prevent future interference might be facilitated by a subpoena. Any subsequent law enforcement actions would be the responsibility of the DOJ or other agencies.
The Clintons may think that being questioned by Republicans is beneath them. I would like to see them get the Roger Stone treatment in front of waiting news agencies. Come on, Kash, grow a set.
OF – the courts have generally refused to judge what is a valid legislative purpose – which means subpeonas are unlimited.
I thought the Epstein Files were the Dems great attempt to get at the truth as to what happened and who did it??? As soon as one of their own is hoist on their own petard the agender changes. Look how fast the METOO fiasco ended it was Biden that was being accused. All of a sudden “believe all women” turned into “what’s that harpy screeching about”
If we could bottle Democrat hypocrisy we could wipe out the national debt.
The Ds lead the charge to release the Epstine files. The Republicans are the ones refusing to obey the law.
ATS – it has been and mostly remains MAGA that is after the Epstain files.
Democrats have vascilated. At the moment they are using them to try to tar trump.
But it is mostly not working.
I never understood the preoccupation with the Epstein files. He’s dead and his accomplice is in prison. Both Trump and Clinton were certified womanizers. To me the big story is Trump giving the finger to the auto worker, who probably voted for him. Come next November, that will cost Republican incumbents votes.
did you happen to notice how the media edited out the irrational and unhinged SCREAMING from the “auto worker?”
It’s about the Benjamins Mikey.
You just can’t help being wrong. Just like the ICE shooting.
Like it or not Trump worked with the FBI to go after Epstein. Clinton not so much
Because the current president is a pedophile. That is why.
Trump was expressing his 1stA right in response to the auto-workers 1stA rights.
I can see Hillary now, standing at a steaming cauldron stirring her witches brew, her spooky chants and Mephistophelian cackle once again assuring Bill of their invulnerability to the laws and ethical obligations of hapless mortals.
And there you have it!
There was no “Russian Collusion” in 2016, just fabrication by Hillary et.al.
The only ‘collusion’ there was, was done by Bill and Hillary with Israeli Intelligence via Jeffery Epstein (Double-Agent working for the CIA and Agaf HaModi’in) for information on Donald Trump and his Campaign.
The Powers to be Weaponized the program (approved the Honey Pot Operation – Set Epstein et.al. to work), then They turned around and Villainized it (Condemned all the Participants – Clients & Epstein et.al.). The operation wasn’t Redlined and Intelligence knew it – that’s not failure, that’s complicity and more importantly ‘exploitation’ (sexual exploitation of underage women). It’s the kind of ‘sick mentality’ that the Intelligence Community subscribes & succumbs to. But since it’s ‘Covert-Ops’ it’s Ok.
Oh yes, let us not forget the Dark Money: Sam Bankman-Fried & FTX’s ‘Effective Altruism’ to a tune of 9.5B. FTX had a massive $9.5 billion shortfall in top crypto and cash needed to repay customers (a liquidity problem), at the time of his downfall. That’s a lot of Dark Money floating around. That kind of money can buy a lot of Ballots. Curious to know if Sam Bankman-Fried|FTX and Crypto comes up in Epstein’s Ledger or JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Deutsche Bank accounts, think of it as a political donation made in crypto for Epstein-Intel for HRC. It wouldn’t be hard to cross-check SBF/FTX’s Ledgers with Epstein’s both are in custody of the Fed. (So many loose ends: Comey Brennen, Wray … The List).
SBF/FTX may not have had direct connections to the Clinton Regime campaign against Donald Trump, but there was plenty of ‘Dark Crypto’ floating around in the Market place then and still is today as some has been washed-up as Grey Crypto and minted into Crypto Coin ~ The nefarious beginnings of Crypto today.
But hey -OK- I get it:
Bill Clinton is just a rich un-registered sex offending pedophile on the loose, taking the Lolita Express Jet all the way down to Little St. James Island for a massage at his friends house (for some 26 Lolita Airways flights and 18 Whitehouse visits with Epstein), nothing more to see here, no collusion, just a normal business relationship with a sex trafficker.
Hillary… Russia? where’s Russia, I can’t see it from my kitchen window, surly Chairman you wouldn’t be pulling a hoax on me, would you?
(my apologies in advance to Sara Palin). She used her Secretarial position to vicariously run her
campaignagenda to subvert, circumvent and destroy the National Election process by utilizing the CIA, FBI, US-ABC agencies, Media, AIPAC, Foreign Intelligence (Provided by Jeffery Epstein et.al., Israel and Others) and crush her Opponents (DJT, TG).That’s why they don’t need to show up when a Congressional Subpoena hit their door mat.
So there you have it! Both Clinton’s have proven their contempt for the Country (proof that they have always had held).
Political Espionage
Election Fraud
Conspiracy to overthrow the Government (Election)
Treason
and Pedophilia
Got it (the official narrative) !!!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/13/us/clinton-letter.html
Or if you prefer the post from John O. Brennan’s Blog (a.k.a.: The NYT)
nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/politics/bill-hillary-clinton-testimony-epstein-inquiry-contempt.html
The current Archivist of the United States is: Marco Rubio, I hope he’s archiving the entire 5.2 million pieces of Jeffery Epstein’s files.
(and Comey, Brennen, Wray, … etc.)
Hillary may narrate history, but she can’t Bleach-Bit reality.
The dirty deeds are done.
!!! RELEASE THE BURN BAGS NOW !!!
!!! RELEASE THE BURN BAGS NOW !!!
!!! RELEASE THE BURN BAGS NOW !!!
!!! RELEASE IT ALL NOW !!!
Comey, Brennen, Wray, HRC … et.al.
DRAIN THE SWAMP!