Clintons face contempt charges after refusing to give evidence in Epstein probe

Former US president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton say they will refuse to comply with a congressional subpoena for them to give evidence in an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

The Clintons claimed a Republican-controlled committee’s attempts were “legally invalid” as Republican legislators prepare contempt of Congress proceedings against them.

In a letter released on social media on Tuesday the Clintons told the chairman of the House oversight committee, Republican representative James Comer, he is on the cusp of a process “literally designed to result in our imprisonment”.

“We will forcefully defend ourselves,” wrote the Clintons, who are Democrats.

They accused Mr Comer of allowing other former officials to provide written statements about Epstein to the committee, while selectively enforcing subpoenas against them.

Mr Comer says he will begin contempt of Congress proceedings next week.

It potentially starts a complicated and politically messy process that Congress has rarely reached for.

“No one’s accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing. We just have questions,” Mr Comer told reporters after Bill Clinton did not show up for a scheduled deposition at House offices Tuesday.

He added: “Anyone would admit they spent a lot of time together.”

Mr Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein but had a well-documented friendship with the wealthy financier throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

Republicans have zeroed in on that relationship as they try to wrestle control over demands for a full accounting of Epstein’s wrongdoing.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

He killed himself in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial.

Multiple former presidents have voluntarily given evidence before Congress, but none has been compelled to do so.

Mr Comer also indicated that the committee would not attempt to compel testimony from President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican, saying that it could not force a sitting president to give evidence.