>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
Republicans are increasingly focusing on high-profile Democrats, including the Clintons, as questions mount over which powerful figures were linked to Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Earlier, Democrats had urged Comer to subpoena the Justice Department for the Epstein records. Instead, in August, Comer issued subpoenas directly to Bill and Hillary Clinton, seeking testimony regarding what they knew about Epstein’s activities and whether they had any involvement.
Comer blasted the Clintons in a statement Friday, saying they have repeatedly obstructed the committee’s efforts.
“The former president and former secretary of state have delayed, obstructed and largely ignored the committee staff’s efforts to schedule their testimony,” he wrote.
The Clintons’ attorney, David Kendall, fired back, accusing Comer of running a politically motivated investigation.
“President Trump has consistently sought to divert attention from his own relationship with Mr. Epstein and unfortunately the committee appears to be complicit,” Kendall wrote, according to a copy provided by a Democratic lawmaker to The New York Times. He also described the probe as “weaponized legislative investigations and targeted criminal prosecutions.”
The Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas to multiple figures connected to Epstein, but former Attorney General Bill Barr is the only high-profile witness who has appeared so far. Former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller were excused from live depositions, and subpoenas to five other former attorneys general were withdrawn after they claimed no relevant knowledge.
Comer has refused to extend similar leniency to the Clintons, insisting that the subpoenas require live testimony. He argues the couple has ignored repeated demands to appear despite submitting sworn written statements.
Former President Clinton has acknowledged knowing Epstein but insists he never visited Epstein’s private island and severed ties years ago. Flight logs, however, show Clinton took four international trips on Epstein’s private jet in 2002 and 2003. A photo of Clinton with Epstein was also released last week in a document dump highlighting the financier’s connections to prominent figures.
President Trump, who also socialized with Epstein years ago, has said he expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 and did not maintain a close relationship.
With the deposition deadline approaching and the Epstein files set for public release, Comer’s contempt threat has raised the stakes in a high-profile political and legal clash that could soon reach a breaking point.
