U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) has moved to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress after the former presidential couple failed to comply with subpoenas issued by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Donalds, a member of the committee, emphasized the need for accountability, drawing parallels to previous cases where Trump allies were sentenced to federal prison terms for refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas.
The resolution in question stems from subpoenas approved unanimously by the Oversight Committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee on July 23, 2025. These subpoenas required testimony from several individuals, including the Clintons, as part of a probe examining the crimes of notorious sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial, had documented associations with Bill Clinton, including multiple flights on Epstein’s private jet. The committee sought depositions to gather information on the Clinton’s ties to Epstein, though no criminal allegations have been alleged.
The subpoenas were reissued after initial delays, with Bill Clinton scheduled for a deposition on January 13 and Hillary for the following day. Both failed to appear, prompting immediate backlash from committee Republicans.
In a letter addressed to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), the Clintons’ attorneys described the subpoenas as “invalid” and lacking a legitimate legislative purpose. They further accused Republicans of weaponizing the committee for political gain, which was echoed in a statement from the Clintons themselves.
“Despite everything that needs to be done to help our country, you are on the cusp of bringing Congress to a halt to pursue a rarely used process literally designed to result in our imprisonment. This is not the way out of America’s ills, and we will forcefully defend ourselves,” the Clintons said in a public statement.
After the Clintons refused to comply, Donalds immediately called for the former presidential couple to be held in contempt.
“YESTERDAY: Bill Clinton defied a subpoena. THIS MORNING: Hillary Clinton defied a subpoena. THIS AFTERNOON: I told the Speaker they should be held in Contempt of Congress, there should be a vote on the floor of the House, & criminal referrals should be sent to [the Justice Department],” the congressman posted on X.
“For years, the Democrats taunted us with ‘No one is above the law’ as they politicized our institutions & engaged in lawfare. Well guess what? The Clintons aren’t above the law either & they actually committed criminal offenses by defying subpoenas,” he said in a follow-up statement. “It’s time for DOJ referrals.”
Donalds and other elected Republicans have pointed out that former Trump advisers Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon were sentenced to federal prison terms after they refused to comply with subpoenas from the Democrat-led January 6 Committee. Both had cited executive privilege relating to the subpoenas, though Democrats still moved forward with criminal referrals.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) endorsed the effort while speaking with reporters. “I do support it. I don’t know how else you would define it, but that it is contempt of Congress. I mean it’s a duly issued subpoena, and if they have nothing else to hide, they should just come and say that,” he said of contempt proceedings.
In order for the Clintons to be held in contempt of Congress, the Oversight Committee will first hold a vote to advance the motion. If adopted, this will lead to a full floor vote.
Upon House approval, the matter would be referred to the DOJ for potential prosecution. The DOJ will then have final say over whether to pursue criminal charges.
