James Comer Rejects Clinton Interview Offer in Epstein Probe, Pushing Contempt Vote

Negotiations between Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, the Republican chairman of the Oversight Committee, and Bill and Hillary Clinton over their refusal to testify in his panel’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation broke down on Tuesday, hours before a scheduled vote to hold the couple in contempt of Congress. Mr. Comer refused an offer to interview the former president under oath in his New York office, rejecting terms he said were untenable and vowing to go forward with the vote as planned on Wednesday. That would be the first step in a process that could potentially lead to the Clintons’ criminal prosecution. The breakdown came after days of delicate negotiations between a top aide to Mr. Comer and lawyers for the couple over the conditions under which Mr. Clinton would sit for the interview, as the couple sought a compromise that could spare them a contempt vote. The Clintons have remained adamant that they would not appear at a formal deposition with the committee, accusing Mr. Comer of pursuing a politically driven process “literally designed to result in our imprisonment” and promising to fight the chairman on the issue for as long as it takes. Behind the scenes, their lawyers had been negotiating directly with Mark Marin, Mr. Comer’s staff director, seeking a deal that could result in the lifting of the subpoenas his panel has issued to both Clintons. Their latest offer, according to people familiar with the matter, was an interview under oath in Mr. Clinton’s New York office with Mr. Comer and Representative Robert Garcia of California, the ranking Democrat on the committee, both of whom would be accompanied by a staff member taking notes. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.