The Clintons face contempt charges for defying congressional subpoenas
WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - As the Clintons face possible contempt charges for Congressional subpoenas, some Democrats are saying the former president and former Secretary of State should testify before a congressional committee investigating Jeffery Epstein.
Contempt of Congress charges are now looming for former President Bill Clinton with the House Oversight Committee saying they'll take that rare step after the former president failed to appear for a deposition in the investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Former President Clinton, who appears in a series of photos and records related to Epstein, as long denied wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein's crimes.
"No one's accusing Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing. We just have questions, and that's why the Democrats voted along with Republicans to subpoena Bill Clinton," said Rep. James Comer (R-KY).
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear Wednesday, but in a letter to the House Oversight chair, both Clintons declined, saying they had nothing to add, calling the subpoenas legally invalid, and wrote, "Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences. For us, now is that time."
Some Democrats arguing the Clintons should be allowed to answer in writing as others have, and pressed the Justice Department (DOJ) to finish releasing the full Epstein files.
"And then we'll be able to determine all that we need to know," said Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY).
Though Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who helped lead the charge to force the files' release, said Clinton should appear, there are conflicting views in a high profile push for answers.
"Everyone involved should be providing an explanation, and I have conducted this in a way that doesn't single out Republicans or Democrats," Rep. Khanna expressed.
A Clinton spokesperson previously called on the DOJ to make public anything tied to the former president in the Epstein files, accusing them of selective releases to imply wrongdoing where there is none.
The DOJ says its still combing through the files for redactions close to a month after a deadline to release them all.
