House Oversight Committee recommends criminal contempt charges for Bill and Hillary Clinton

On Jan. 21, 2026, the House Oversight Committee voted to recommend charging Bill and Hillary Clinton with criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in its Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The measures were approved with bipartisan support: nine Democrats joined Republicans to hold Mr.

Clinton in contempt, and three Democrats joined the G.O.P. to hold Mrs. Clinton in contempt. Committee leaders said the referrals would be sent to the Justice Department for prosecution if the full House approves them; criminal penalties can include fines up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to a year.

Representative James R. Comer, the committee chairman, predicted the measures "will pass, and I believe it will pass with Democratic votes." The votes followed a daylong, contentious session in which many Democrats said the subpoenas were lawful but argued the Clintons had made efforts to cooperate, including offering an interview under oath and submitting sworn statements.

Some Democrats called Mr. Clinton’s refusal to testify "shameful," while others said criminal contempt was inappropriate for a former president. Republicans accused Democrats of hypocrisy and said the Clintons must be held accountable. The committee set up votes on the House floor in the coming weeks and said it would depose Ghislaine Maxwell on Feb.

Key Topics

Politics, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, House Oversight Committee, Jeffrey Epstein, Justice Department