WASHINGTON — On Monday, the Republican leader of a House Committee declined a proposal from former President Bill Clinton to participate in a transcribed interview related to the ongoing House investigation into the activities of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This decision moves the possibility of holding both Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress closer to a vote.

This development occurs as the House prepares for potential votes this week on criminal contempt of Congress charges against the Clintons. If these charges are approved, Bill and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could face significant fines or even imprisonment if found guilty.

Representative James Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, stated on social media that he requires both Clintons to attend sworn depositions before the committee to comply fully with the subpoenas issued. According to a letter from the committee to the Clintons’ legal representatives, the Clintons had offered for Bill Clinton to undergo a four-hour transcribed interview concerning “matters related to the investigations and prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein,” while Hillary Clinton would provide a sworn declaration.

“The Clintons cannot decide the terms of legally issued subpoenas,” asserted Comer, a Republican from Kentucky.

Last month, the Republican-majority Oversight panel pushed forward with criminal contempt of Congress charges. In a notable bipartisan move, nine of the 21 Democrats on the committee joined Republicans in supporting charges against Bill Clinton, advocating for full transparency in the Epstein investigation. Additionally, three Democrats voted in favor of advancing charges against Hillary Clinton.

The Republican-controlled Oversight panel advanced criminal contempt of Congress charges last month. Nine of the committee’s 21 Democrats joined Republicans in support of the charges against Bill Clinton as they argued for full transparency in the Epstein investigation. Three Democrats also supported advancing the charges against Hillary Clinton.

Bill Clinton’s relationship with Epstein has re-emerged as a focal point for Republicans amid the push for a reckoning over Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 in a New York jail cell as he faced sex trafficking charges.

Clinton, like a bevy of other high-powered men, had a well-documented relationship with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He has not been accused of wrongdoing in his interactions with the late financier.

After the Clintons were both subpoenaed in August by the House Oversight Committee, their attorney had tried to argue against the validity of the subpoena. However, as Comer threatened to begin contempt of Congress proceedings, they started negotiating towards a compromise.

Still, the Clintons remained highly critical of Comer’s decision, saying that he was bringing politics into the investigation while failing to hold the Trump administration accountable for delays in producing the Department of Justice’s case files on Epstein.