House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer has issued subpoenas to the Department of Justice and several prominent former government officials — including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — as part of an ongoing investigation into the federal handling of matters connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
The move follows a bipartisan vote by a subcommittee last month that approved a subpoena demanding the full, unredacted Epstein files from the DOJ. Notably, three Republicans joined Democrats in backing that motion. A separate motion to subpoena 10 former U.S. officials was led by Republicans and passed by voice vote.
Under committee rules, Comer was obligated to follow through and issue the subpoenas, which focus on both Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
In a formal letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Comer instructed the DOJ to hand over all requested documentation related to the Epstein case by August 19. He emphasized the need for congressional oversight, not only of the Epstein and Maxwell cases but also of how the federal government enforces sex trafficking laws more broadly.
“As the Department works to uncover and release further information tied to Epstein and Maxwell, Congress must fulfill its duty to oversee the federal response to sex trafficking and ensure the proper investigation and prosecution of such crimes,” Comer wrote.
He added that the outcome of the investigation may be used to shape future legislation aimed at improving how the federal system handles non-prosecution or plea agreements in sex-crime cases.
Alongside the DOJ subpoena, Comer confirmed that subpoenas have also been issued to 10 high-profile figures from past administrations. That list includes President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey, and several former attorneys general — Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales — as well as former FBI Director and special counsel Robert Mueller.
The expanded scope of subpoenas marks a significant escalation in House Republicans’ efforts to press for answers in the long-running Epstein saga.