Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are involved in a major issue in Washington over the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Both were asked by the U.S. House Oversight Committee to tell the truth about their connection to Epstein, but they have declined to show up.
The investigation is being led by Representative James Comer, a Republican who heads the House Oversight Committee. The committee is looking into Epstein’s life and how powerful people may have been connected to him. Epstein was a rich businessman who did sex crimes. He died in jail in 2019 while waiting for his trial.
In August 2025, Congress issued official orders to ask Bill and Hillary Clinton to give depositions (formal questioning under oath) as part of the investigation. Prosecutors and lawmakers want them to answer questions face to face, not just send written statements.
The Oversight Committee later offered new dates in January 2026 for the Clintons to appear. Bill Clinton was set to testify(speak under oath) on January 13 and Hillary Clinton on January 14. But non of them showed up.
After they failed to appear, Chairman Comer warned that the committee may take action for not following congress’s order. This means Congress could officially accuse them for not obeying the law. If the case is approved by the full House, the case could be sent to the courts. That could cause punishments, including fines or even face prison, though such punishment is rare and would probably take a long time in court.
The Clintons made a post on social media explaining their decision not to do it. They said the official orders to appear are not legal and the investigation is political. In their post, they also said it feels like the process was designed to punish them unfairly.
Committee members disagree with the Clintons’ argument. Rep. Comer said that other people asked to appear either didn’t know much about the case or had health problems that stopped them from answering questions. But he says the Clintons are different because of their past personal connections with Epstein and his close associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell was Epstein’s social partner and was later convicted for sex trafficking and related crimes.
Some important documents and photos from Epstein’s estate have been released during the investigation. These files showed Epstein with various high profile people, including Presidents, celebrities, and business leaders. While being photographed with Epstein doesn’t mean someone committed a crime, it has increased public interest in the investigation.
This situation is part of a bigger government effort to make more Epstein related information public. In late 2025, Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law that requires the Justice Department to release unclassified documents connected to Epstein’s case. So far, only a small amount of those files has been made public, and many pages are still hidden or kept secret.
People across the political spectrum have been watching closely. Some say powerful figures should be treated like anyone else and must testify. Others point out that the investigation is being used for political benefits. The fight over testimony has become another major story in Washington and could shape how the Epstein investigation continues.