The House Oversight Committee is moving to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress after the former president and secretary of state repeatedly ignored subpoenas tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), took the rare step after the Clintons repeatedly refused to testify, advancing contempt resolutions to the full House. Comer emphasized the importance of enforcing congressional subpoenas and ensuring accountability.

While the vote largely followed party lines, several Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the motion against Bill Clinton. These included Reps. Maxwell Frost, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Summer Lee, Emily Randall, Lateefah Simon, Melanie Stansbury, Rashida Tlaib, Stephen Lynch, and Ayanna Pressley.

Chairman Comer stressed that the contempt actions are necessary to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no one, regardless of stature, is above scrutiny. “You have to have a transcript in an investigation,” Comer said. “So no transcript, no deal.” He signaled that he will insist on a transcribed deposition of Bill Clinton as a minimum requirement for compliance.

The subpoenas in question, unanimously approved over five months ago, are part of the Committee’s ongoing probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s network and the role prominent figures may have played in shielding him from scrutiny. “These bipartisan subpoenas were ignored for months,” Comer said. “The Committee is now taking the steps necessary to uphold Congress’s investigative authority and ensure accountability.”

The move to hold the Clintons in contempt comes amid growing frustration among lawmakers and the public over the lack of transparency and perceived preferential treatment for high-profile individuals. Legal experts say the full House vote could set an important precedent, reinforcing Congress’s authority to compel testimony and documents from any person, regardless of political influence or celebrity status.