Refugees

The statement you referenced is **accurate** and directly from Rep. James Comer's official X post on January 20, 2026. He explicitly rejected a proposal from the Clintons' lawyers for an informal, off-the-record "conversation" in New York involving only Bill Clinton (not Hillary), limited to Comer (and possibly the ranking Democrat), with no other committee members and crucially **no official transcript**.

This came as the House Oversight Committee prepared to advance contempt resolutions against both Bill and Hillary Clinton for defying bipartisan subpoenas to appear for sworn, transcribed depositions related to the committee's probe into Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking network, federal handling of the cases, and potential reforms.

### Timeline and Key Facts

- **Subpoenas Origin**: Issued in August 2025 after unanimous approval by the Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee (bipartisan voice vote in July 2025). They sought testimony on topics including the Clintons' documented social ties to Epstein (e.g., Bill Clinton's flights on Epstein's plane), Hillary Clinton's role as Secretary of State in countering sex trafficking, and her acquaintance with Ghislaine Maxwell.

- **Non-Appearance**: Bill Clinton's deposition was scheduled for January 13, 2026; Hillary's for January 14, 2026 (after prior rescheduling due to cited reasons like funerals). Neither appeared, despite negotiations.

- **Clintons' Position**: Their legal team (including David Kendall) argued the subpoenas were invalid, politically motivated, lacked legislative purpose, and offered alternatives like public hearings or written declarations. They disputed some characterizations but proposed the limited, no-transcript setup as a compromise.

- **Comer's Rejection**: As detailed in his post, he called it "ridiculous" and "untenable," citing entitlement to special treatment, Bill Clinton's history (impeachment for perjury-related issues in 1998, law license suspension), the need for transparency (comparing to released transcripts from Bill Barr and Alex Acosta), and the insult to the public demanding answers on Epstein's crimes.

- **Contempt Proceedings**: A markup session occurred on January 21, 2026 (today in this timeline), to consider and advance resolutions recommending the full House hold both in contempt of Congress. Comer emphasized during the session that "subpoenas are not mere suggestions" and displayed materials highlighting Epstein connections. If passed by the committee (likely along party lines), it could proceed to a full House vote, potentially referring to the DOJ for criminal prosecution (fines/jail time possible, though rare and enforcement complex historically).

### Broader Context and Partisan Divide

The probe is ongoing since 2025, targeting various former officials. Republicans portray the Clintons' defiance as evading accountability and special treatment for elites. Critics (including Democrats on the committee) argue it's selective/political targeting, noting inconsistencies in pursuing other witnesses (e.g., DOJ records) and broader Epstein ties (including figures like Donald Trump). No accusations of wrongdoing against the Clintons have been made in this context—they maintain cooperation via other means and challenge the subpoenas' validity.

This aligns with coverage from the Oversight Committee's site, major outlets (NYT, CNN, ABC, NBC, Guardian, Politico, Fox-affiliated), and real-time X discussions (including Comer's post and committee hearing clips). Developments could continue, such as the committee vote outcome or any appeals/legal challenges. If you're referring to a specific aspect or need more on updates, let me know!

Henry McClure  
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