Former President Bill Clinton did not appear for a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee, prompting the committee to consider contempt charges against him. The absence was noted shortly after the meeting began, with committee counsel referencing prior communications from Clinton's attorney regarding a subpoena issued in August 2025. Chairman James Comer expressed disappointment, stating, "It’s a shame President Clinton failed to appear in accordance with our duly authorized congressional subpoena." The subpoenas for both Bill and Hillary Clinton were issued following a vote by the House Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement to expand the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, which was later approved unanimously by the full committee.

Clinton had previously offered to provide a written statement, a concession accepted for other officials, but Comer insisted on in-person testimony, citing the need for direct answers. He highlighted Clinton's connections to Epstein, noting that Epstein had visited the White House 17 times during Clinton's presidency and that Clinton had flown on Epstein's plane approximately 27 times post-presidency. While no accusations of wrongdoing were made against Clinton, the committee emphasized the importance of compliance with the subpoena.

In response, the Clintons issued a joint statement on social media, asserting that the issue transcends political affiliations and is fundamentally about right and wrong. They condemned recent government actions, claiming that citizens have been forcibly taken by federal agents from their homes and workplaces. They expressed urgency for citizens to uphold the principles of the country, despite acknowledging their own protections. The Clintons criticized the committee's focus, arguing that it has not compelled the Department of Justice to release all Epstein-related files and anticipated contempt charges, stating that their subpoenas are legally invalid.

In a separate legal development, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Trump administration executed a search warrant at the home of Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson, who reported on classified information allegedly leaked by a Pentagon contractor. The contractor, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, is accused of illegally retaining classified materials. Natanson is not facing any allegations of wrongdoing. Former Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron criticized the action as a significant threat to press freedom, reflecting the administration's aggressive stance against independent journalism. Additionally, Bondi reinstated the practice of seizing reporters' phone records to identify sources of leaks, reversing a policy established during the Biden administration. Bondi justified this change by asserting the necessity of holding accountable those responsible for unauthorized disclosures of classified information.