Washington, D.C. – On January 13, 2026, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a joint letter addressed to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), refusing to testify in person as part of an ongoing congressional investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The letter, posted by both Hillary Clinton and Bill outlines their decision not to comply with subpoenas, provides written information instead, and accuses the committee of partisan motivations while highlighting what they describe as alarming government actions over the past year.
The Clintons’ statement emphasizes that their refusal stems from a broader context of events they view as threats to democratic principles. They list several incidents from the past year, including the seizure of citizens by masked federal agents, deportations of students and scientists without due process, pardons for those involved in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol siege, the dismantling of national security agencies, threats to universities, media companies, and law firms over free speech issues, the deployment of American troops in domestic towns and cities, and the weaponization of the Justice Department against political opponents. They specifically reference a recent event: the killing of an unarmed mother by an ICE agent just days prior.
That incident involved Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, who was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. Good, described by family and friends as a poet and singer, was unarmed at the time of the shooting, which has sparked protests, resignations from federal prosecutors, and calls for accountability from lawmakers. The Clintons frame this and other events as part of a pattern that has led them to conclude “now is that time” to resist, drawing on their past positions in government to speak out despite potential consequences.
The letter directly criticizes Comer’s management of the Epstein investigation, which the House Oversight Committee launched in 2025 to examine the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) role in Epstein’s prosecutions and any potential cover-ups. Jeffrey Epstein, a financier convicted of sex trafficking who died in federal custody in 2019, had connections to numerous high-profile figures, including Bill Clinton, who flew on Epstein’s private plane multiple times in the early 2000s for humanitarian work. The Clintons have repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.
According to the letter, Comer subpoenaed eight individuals in addition to the Clintons but dismissed seven without requiring testimony and has only interviewed two people total since the probe began. The Clintons note that a legal analysis from two law firms, provided to the committee, deems the subpoenas invalid, and they call for its public release. They also point out Comer’s failure to use oversight powers to compel the DOJ to release all Epstein files, despite bipartisan efforts in the House that resulted in partial disclosures in 2025—efforts in which Comer did not participate.
The timing of the letter coincides with escalating tensions in the investigation. Bill Clinton was scheduled for a deposition on January 13, 2026, but did not appear, prompting Comer to announce that the committee would initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against him. Hillary Clinton’s deposition is set for the following day. Comer stated that the subpoena was unanimously approved by the bipartisan committee and that the panel had engaged in five months of good-faith negotiations. If approved by the committee and the full House, the contempt charge could be referred to the DOJ for potential prosecution, though such actions against former officials are rare and often politically fraught.
In their letter, the Clintons argue that the focus should be on the government’s potential failures in investigating and prosecuting Epstein’s crimes to prevent future occurrences, rather than what they call a partisan exercise. They provide written details on what they know about the Epstein matter—comparable to or more than what others subpoenaed have offered—and express readiness to defend themselves publicly, warning that pursuing contempt could halt congressional work amid national needs.
The statement concludes by urging Comer to reconsider, emphasizing that Americans will discern the truth despite attempts to obscure it. This development marks a significant escalation in the Epstein probe, which has already led to the release of over 33,000 pages of DOJ records in September 2025, and underscores ongoing partisan divides in congressional oversight.
