House Republicans are taking a bold step to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accountable for dodging subpoenas linked to a probe into Jeffrey Epstein's notorious activities.

On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, moved forward with a markup of two resolutions to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with subpoenas related to the Epstein investigation.

The resolutions stem from the Clintons' refusal to appear for a deposition last week, a move that could lead to a full House floor vote and potential referral to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for criminal prosecution.

The committee action follows months of tension, as the Clintons have challenged the legal basis of the subpoenas.

Early Moves in the Epstein Investigation

The issue has sparked intense debate over accountability and the reach of congressional oversight. While the Clintons maintain they have no relevant information to offer, many question whether their past ties to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell—including Bill Clinton’s documented travels on Epstein’s private plane in the early 2000s—warrant closer scrutiny, ABC News reported.

Last summer, the Oversight Committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee, with bipartisan support, approved subpoenas for 10 individuals, including the Clintons, to testify about Epstein and Maxwell.

The Clintons have resisted for months, with their lawyer, David Kendall, arguing they lack pertinent details for the investigation. Yet, Chairman Comer has pushed back, insisting the committee must assess the value of their testimony firsthand.

In October, Comer expressed skepticism in a letter to Kendall, suggesting the Clintons’ input is critical to the probe. Photos released last month under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, showing Bill Clinton on international trips with Epstein and Maxwell between 2002 and 2003, have only fueled Republican demands for answers.

Clinton’s Defiance Sparks Contempt Push

On Jan. 14, Hillary Clinton failed to appear for a closed-door deposition at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., prompting Comer to double down on the contempt effort. Joined by Rep. Scott Perry, Comer addressed reporters, signaling no retreat from holding the Clintons to account. The resolutions are expected to clear the committee on Wednesday afternoon, setting the stage for a House floor vote soon after.

Timing for that floor vote remains unclear until the markup concludes, but with Speaker Mike Johnson able to lose only two Republican votes if Democrats oppose, the outcome hangs in a delicate balance.

If passed by a simple majority, the resolution would direct Johnson to refer the matter to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution. Notably, neither Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes, and no public allegations from survivors or associates have implicated them.

Comer didn’t mince words in a statement on Tuesday, saying he “rejected the Clintons’ ridiculous offer” for a limited conversation with Bill Clinton in New York. That proposal, which included only Comer, Ranking Member Robert Garcia, and a small staff contingent, fell short of the formal deposition the committee demands. The Oversight Committee isn’t playing games with what they see as stonewalling.

Clinton’s Defense and Declarations

Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña fired back at ABC News, insisting they “never said no to a transcript” and that interviews would be under oath and on the record. He hinted at ulterior motives behind the committee’s persistence, suggesting a misdirection to protect unnamed interests. Such claims do little to quell suspicions about why the Clintons won’t sit for a full deposition.

Last week, Bill Clinton’s office released written declarations dated Jan. 13 from both Clintons, denying any knowledge of Epstein or Maxwell’s criminal activities. They also stated they never visited Epstein’s private estate in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with Bill Clinton clarifying his plane trips from 2002 to 2003 were tied to Clinton Foundation work.

Bill Clinton’s declaration detailed how Epstein provided a plane large enough for him, his staff, and Secret Service detail during those early 2000s trips. He admitted Epstein “may very well have attended” White House events during his presidency, among “tens of thousands” photographed with him, but recalled no specific interactions.

This carefully worded response raises questions about whether written statements can substitute for live testimony under oath.