House panel recommends holding Clintons in contempt over Epstein testimony

A House Oversight Committee voted to recommend contempt charges against Bill and Hillary Clinton after they declined in-person testimony about ties to Jeffrey Epstein; the committee has referred the measures to the full House for a possible vote to send the matters to the Justice Department.

A Republican-led House Oversight Committee on Wednesday voted to recommend that former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton be held in contempt of Congress after they declined to appear in person to testify about ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The committee said the refusals followed months of negotiation and described them as interfering with its oversight work. The measures were approved in committee votes and are being sent to the full House for consideration. Committee leaders said the next procedural step is a House vote that could lead to referral to the Justice Department. Known details: - The committee voted to hold Bill Clinton in contempt by a 34-8 margin and to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt by a 28-15 margin; all 25 Republicans on the panel backed the measures. - The Clintons have offered to cooperate with the committee but declined to appear in person before the panel, and committee members said they received no valid legal justification for the refusals. - The committee has referred the resolutions to the full House, where a simple majority is required to pass and where Republicans hold a narrow majority. - If the House approves, the referrals could be sent to the Justice Department for possible prosecution; contempt of Congress is reported as a misdemeanor that can carry up to one year in jail and fines. Summary: The committee recommended contempt findings and has forwarded the resolutions to the full House for a vote. If the House approves, the cases could be referred to the Justice Department; the outcome is undetermined at this time.