This is unexpected to be sure, and not the best way to handle the ongoing investigation into the Epstein files, as the House Committee on Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) announced that he was summoning almost one dozen former officials to appear for depositions on the Epstein investigation — the list includes both Clintons. This is not to say that Bill Clinton, who rode in Epstein’s jet more than a handful of times, shouldn’t be held accountable for anything he might have done with anyone underage. No, but it certainly does sound more like propaganda to feed the MAGA masses over a sincere attempt to really get at the truth.
Two things sure seem self-evident. If one wanted to call witnesses in the matter, it really should start with the victims, who can be protected with respect to identity, and not those who might seek to protect themselves. And, second, it is almost impossible to see what Hillary Clinton adds to the equation beyond feeding the Q-Anon folks who believe that she was running something out of a pizza shop.
Were those the only problems. Further complicating the matter is that Congress just never calls former presidents to testify – ever.
The committee’s subpoena of Bill Clinton in particular seems more symbolic than substantive. No former president has ever testified to Congress under the compulsion of a subpoena — and lawmakers have tried only twice before: once in 1953, when the House Un-American Activities Committee subpoenaed Harry Truman, and once in 2022, when the Jan. 6 select committee subpoenaed Donald Trump.
Neither president testified in those instances, and the Justice Department has long cited Truman’s example — though not backed by any legal precedent — to suggest that it is improper for Congress to compel even former presidents to testify, given separation of powers concerns.
Well, one can say a lot about separation of powers, but when it comes to raping kids, the only separation is between those outraged and those who find it outrageous to be questioned. So if Bill Clinton was called to testify along with the likes of Bill Gates and several other officials, so be it, but that’s not the way to do an investigation, which is what is really needed. Expect to see the picture below recirculated many times, though the young woman was 22 at the time. But she has accused Epstein of raping her in her early 20s (But said that Bill Clinton had been “a perfect gentleman” during their one trip together).
I never liked Bill Clinton ever. Thought he was a disgrace and this picture even if nothing happened is still a representation of his character. Hillary should have moved on from him.Tony
— Tony Negron (@tnite02.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T19:07:32.696Z
The Clintons were not the only two subpoenaed; the list includes former attorneys general and directors of the FBI, including former U.S. Attorneys General William Barr, Alberto Gonzales, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, and Merrick Garland, as well as former FBI Directors Robert Mueller and James Comey. Please also note that current Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Patel are also not included, even though those two would seem to be the key in terms of both getting to the files and getting some answers on Ghislaine Maxwell. Additionally, Comer left former FBI Director Christopher Wray – who was in the position when Epstein was arrested – off the subpoena list for reasons passing understanding.
It is possible that Congress will simply subpoena all the files and hope that they haven’t already been burned.
But this is clearly MAGA-bait even though Comer is the one who voted to subpoena the Epstein files in the first place, so he isn’t perfectly aligned with Trump on this one. To be sure, the subpoena to the Clintons sure looks like a gift to Trump. But one would almost bet that Trump would rather not have Clinton subpoenaed regarding the Epstein matter because he wants the entire thing swept under the rug, preferring to talk about grand juries, Obama officials, and the 2016 Russia thing. But there is also the fact that Comer has to know that at least Bill Clinton will surely blow off the subpoena and never testify, so it does put more heat on Bill generally. Democrats really shouldn’t care, so long as all are held accountable, so be it.
If and when all the former AGs and FBI Directors show up, one would hope that a subpoena for Pam Bondi won’t be far behind. It is possible that such a plan is in the works. This will be a fine line for MAGA to dance. Yes, they most certainly will be downright giddy about the Clintons getting the call, but anything that keeps this matter front and center in the news surely hurts Trump and might detract from the other distractions trotted out.
Until the Democrats take over the House, no investigation can really be considered trustworthy, even if Comer hasn’t completely aligned with Trump over everything. Bill Clinton is stuck in that he has no good way out… which might be good, were it not yet another distraction. As for Hillary, same as it ever was – she can go, answer all of their questions, look bored, and leave.
We will see what actually happens. If it is like everything else in the Epstein matter, it won’t be enough.
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Calling the Clintons in for a public spectacle will I predict be an object lesson in ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ I don’t know how sharp Bill is upstairs at his age but there’s been no indication of significant mental decline, at least not that I’ve seen reported. He tried to get a bit too cute with self-lawyering with Ken Starr and got burned. I don’t see him making that mistake again and his counsel will be right there to consult with. As for Hillary, she endured what was it, something like twelve hours of grilling in a single day from the committee led by the dude that looks like Draco Malfoy? They didn’t lay a glove on her.
THIS bunch of GOPers is minor league compared to the committee back then. Both Clintons are I think quite cable of handing their asses to them.
The Clintons should have no trouble scrambling the sulphurous eggs hatched by that rotten committee.
It’s not unreasonable to suspect that besides the Clintons, all others who are called to be questioned by the committee of clowns is because they are opponents and or enemies of vindictive Dementia Don. What a blatantly predetermined exercise in deflection, to construct an untruthful outcome – political malarky!
Isn’t it REALLY risky of Comer to be issuing a subpoena to Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr? I mean, neither man has any reason to be loyal or protective of Drumpf and both would be in pretty good positions to know some very juicy details about Drumpf and Epstein.
Do the Clintons have the right to call witnesses? If so, they should call some of the victims, who can talk about Epstein and Trump.
Bill Barr may know something. His father Donald Barr , then headmaster of the Dalton School, reportedly hired Epstein, then in his early 20s, to teach math and science, despite his lack of a college degree. Although some say that when Epstein was hired, Donald Barr had already resigned as headmaster. But this connection was investigated during Epstein’s trial for sex trafficking, which took place whene Bill Barr was Trump’s attorney general ,and it raised conflict of interest questions. Jeff Sessions his predecessor as Attorney General, was also involved and was required to provide a deposition. Hmm. That said, I don’t think either of them would be particularly eager to talk about this subject.