House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced his rejection of what he termed a “ridiculous offer” from the Clintons regarding the committee’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
The Kentucky Republican made the announcement through a post on social media platform X.
Comer stated that the proposal from the Clintons’ legal team was unacceptable to the committee’s investigative standards.
The offer would have required Comer to travel to New York for a conversation with former President Bill Clinton.
The proposed arrangement included several conditions that Comer found objectionable.
No official transcript would be recorded during the meeting.
Other members of Congress would be prohibited from participating in the conversation.
According to Comer, the terms presented by the Clintons’ lawyers demonstrated a belief in preferential treatment.
He suggested their last name was being used as justification for special accommodations.
The chairman cited the former president’s past conduct as a reason for requiring stricter conditions.
Comer referenced what he called a documented history of parsing language to evade questions.
The House Oversight Committee has issued bipartisan subpoenas to the Clintons.
These subpoenas require appearances for depositions that must be under oath and transcribed.
Comer noted that Bill Clinton responded falsely under oath in the past.
The former president was impeached and suspended from practicing law as a result of prior testimony.
The absence of an official transcript was described by Comer as an indefensible demand.
He characterized the request as insulting to Americans who seek answers about Epstein’s crimes.
The committee has previously released transcripts from interviews with other officials involved in Epstein-related matters.
Former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta both provided testimony that was transcribed and made public.
Comer argued that without a formal record, Americans would be forced to rely on competing accounts of any conversation.
The chairman emphasized the importance of transparency in the investigation.
The committee chairman outlined specific reasons for requiring testimony from Hillary Clinton.
Her knowledge from her tenure as Secretary of State regarding federal efforts to counter international sex-trafficking rings was cited as relevant.
Hillary Clinton’s personal knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell was identified as pertinent to the investigation.
The family’s relationship with Epstein was also mentioned as a factor necessitating her testimony.
Comer announced that contempt proceedings would begin the following day.
He had previously stated his intention to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over her failure to appear for a deposition, according to Breitbart News.
The committee was also considering a resolution to hold Bill Clinton in contempt, per the outlet.
The former president similarly did not appear for his scheduled deposition.
In August 2025, Breitbart reported that Comer issued subpoenas to multiple individuals connected to the Epstein matter.
Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and former FBI Director James Comey were among those subpoenaed.
The investigation centers on what Comer described as the “horrific crimes perpetrated” by Epstein.
The committee’s probe seeks to examine the federal government’s handling of the case across multiple administrations.
