In bipartisan votes, the House committee investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein advanced contempt of Congress citations against former first couple Bill and Hillary Clinton for their failure to testify in the inquiry. 

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted Wednesday on the citations after the former president and former secretary of state refused a subpoena to testify about Epstein. The citations will next move to the House floor for a vote by the full chamber.

Nine committee Democrats joined 25 Republicans to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress, in a lopsided 34-8 vote. However, most committee Democrats objected to holding Hillary Clinton in contempt, with three Democratic members joining Republicans in a 28-15 vote.

Contempt of Congress is a criminal charge punishable by up to a year in prison or a $100,000 fine.

“Today, the Clintons must be held accountable for their actions. And Democrats must support these measures, or they will be exposed as hypocrites,” House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said during the markup of the citation.

“Subpoenas are not mere suggestions. They carry the force of law and require compliance,” Comer added. “Since issuing the subpoenas, this committee has acted in good faith. We’ve offered flexibility on scheduling. The response we received was not cooperation, but defiance, marked by........

© The Daily Signal