(NewsNation) — Bill and Hillary Clinton don’t plan to appear this week for scheduled depositions as part of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a letter they sent to its chairman.
“Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences,” the Clintons wrote in an 8-page letter obtained by the New York Times. “For us, now is that time.”
Bill Clinton was scheduled to appear for a deposition on Tuesday morning. Hillary Clinton’s deposition was scheduled for Wednesday.
Committee chair James Comer, R-Ky., said Tuesday the panel plans to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress after he failed to appear.
“As a result of Bill Clinton not showing up for his lawful subpoena, which again was voted unanimously by the committee in a bipartisan manner, we will move next week in the House Oversight Committee markup to hold former President Clinton in contempt of Congress,” Comer told reporters on Capitol Hill.
In the letter, the Clintons challenged the legality of the subpoenas.
“[T]he Subpoenas issued to President and Secretary Clinton are invalid and legally unenforceable,” the letter reads. “Mindful of these defects, we trust you will engage in good faith to de-escalate this dispute.”
The Clintons also noted that they’d provided Comer with sworn statements similar to those he had accepted from several other subpoenaed former law enforcement officials, who were then excused from testifying before the committee.
Comer said he has communicated with the couple’s legal team, calling the situation “very disappointing.” He said he wouldn’t commit to having President Donald Trump sit for a deposition, adding that a sitting president cannot be compelled to do so.
Regarding the Epstein files, Comer said he also subpoenaed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi before Congress voted for a discharge petition.
“They are sending documents … from my standpoint, the DOJ is turning over documents,” Comer said, adding that he’d like for things to move along quicker, but he believes the Justice Department is complying.
The Clintons were subpoenaed in August, and both depositions were initially scheduled for October.
The committee released a 2011 email from Epstein’s estate, stating Bill Clinton “never” visited his private island. This email was among 20,000 pages of documents released from Epstein’s estate.
Global figures and top businessmen, including Clinton, Trump, former Prince Andrew and Elon Musk, among others, have come under scrutiny for reported links to the disgraced financier.
Comer has maintained Bill Clinton’s alleged links to Epstein should be unveiled after he subpoenaed the former president for testimony before Congress this summer.
NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.