Bill Clinton defies congressional subpoena, Comer says contempt charges moving ahead

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., had threatened to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against Clinton if he did not appear Tuesday.

Comer said Tuesday morning, "We will move next week in the House Oversight Committee … to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress."

"I think everyone knows by now Bill Clinton did not show up. And I think it's important to note that this subpoena was voted on in a bipartisan manner by this committee," Comer told reporters after formally ending the deposition.

"No one's accusing Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing. We just have questions. And that's why the Democrats voted, along with Republicans, to subpoena Bill Clinton."

He said "not a single Democrat" showed up to the deposition on Tuesday.

Other lawmakers seen going into the committee room include Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Michael Cloud, R-Texas, Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Scott Perry, R-Pa.

Committee Republicans posted videos to YouTube and X later on Tuesday showing an empty chair with a placard reading "William J. Clinton" in front of it.

"It's a shame President Clinton failed to appear in accordance with our duly authorized congressional subpoena. This subpoena, I might add, was voted on by the Oversight Committee in a bipartisan fashion. The Oversight Committee will now initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against the former president for defying the law," Comer's voice can be heard saying in the video.

Counsel for committee Democrats also made a statement, which focused largely on accusing President Donald Trump of persecuting political enemies.

Hillary Clinton had also been subpoenaed to appear on Wednesday but likely will not show up.

The Clintons' attorney sent Comer a letter confirming they're challenging the legality of the subpoenas issued against them.

"[T]he Subpoenas issued to President and Secretary Clinton are invalid and legally unenforceable. Mindful of these defects, we trust you will engage in good faith to de-escalate this dispute," reads the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital.

The Clintons' attorneys tore into Comer's leadership of the investigation, accusing him of violating the Constitution's separation of powers and trying to obfuscate the search for real information.

"President and Secretary Clinton have already provided the limited information they possess about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to the Committee. They did so proactively and voluntarily, and despite the fact that the Subpoenas are invalid and legally unenforceable, untethered to a valid legislative purpose, unwarranted because they do not seek pertinent information, and an unprecedented infringement on the separation of powers," the letter said.

"Your continued insistence that the former President and Secretary of State can be compelled to appear before the Committee under these circumstances, however, brings us toward a protracted and unnecessary legal confrontation that distracts from the principal work of the Congress with respect to this matter, which, if conducted sincerely, could help ensure the victims of Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell are afforded some measure of justice for the crimes perpetrated against them, however late. But perhaps distraction is the point."

Fox News Digital asked Comer if he would also move to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt next week if she defies the subpoena, to which he said, "We'll see. We'll talk about it."

If the contempt resolution advances through committee next week, it will then be on the entire House to vote on whether to refer the former president for criminal charges.

A criminal contempt of Congress charge is a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to one year in jail and a maximum $100,000 fine if convicted.

Burchett, however, told reporters he was not confident that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would pursue such a referral.

"I've been really disappointed in our Justice Department, so I would hope that maybe they're making some changes over there," Burchett said.

Clinton was known to be friendly with the late pedophile before his federal charges but was never implicated in any wrongdoing related to him.