The New York Post is reporting that Bill and Hillary Clinton are facing contempt of Congress charges. See here: Bill and Hillary Clinton face contempt of Congress for dodging on Epstein subpoenas again https://t.co/AC4QPChTw5 pic.twitter.com/ktbLeemshI — New York Post (@nypost) January 9, 2026 To be fair and a little more clear, they WILL face contempt of Congress charges if they don’t show up to testify next week when required to do so. The reason this is a story now is that they already dodged one date and they still have not confirmed they plan to attend next week. What?  Bill and Hillary being shady?  Color me shocked!  [sarcasm alert!] Here is more from the NY Post: Bill and Hillary Clinton are facing contempt of Congress charges if they don’t appear before a House committee next week to testify in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The couple was originally scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee in December but those appearances were moved to January 13 for him and the 14th for her at the request of the couple, who cited a conflict. But now they haven’t confirmed they will be there next week. And Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chairman of the panel, said he’ll slap them with contempt if they don’t show. “The Clintons have not confirmed their appearances for their subpoenaed depositions,” a spokesperson for the committee told the New York Post. “They are obligated under the law to appear and we expect them to do so. If the Clintons do not appear for their depositions, the House Oversight Committee will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings.” Ok so now the most obvious question: what real penalties or consequences might they actually face? Here’s a good summary: Contempt of Congress Enforcement and Penalties The most extreme penalties for Contempt of Congress depend on the method used by Congress to enforce it. There are primarily two relevant paths in modern practice: criminal contempt (the statutory route under 2 U.S.C. § 192) and inherent contempt (Congress’s direct, non-statutory authority, rarely used today). Criminal Contempt of Congress (Most Common Modern Path) This is the standard process where Congress certifies a contempt citation to the U.S. Attorney for potential prosecution in federal court. It is a misdemeanor offense for willfully refusing to appear, testify, or produce documents in response to a valid subpoena. Maximum penalties upon conviction: Imprisonment: Up to 12 months (1 year) in jail. Fines: Up to $100,000 (with a minimum fine of $100 in the original statute, though the fine cap has been adjusted upward over time via general federal sentencing provisions). Sentencing Details: Minimum imprisonment in some descriptions: Not less than one month (30 days). Judicial Discretion: Actual sentences are often lighter, determined by a judge considering federal sentencing guidelines (e.g., Steve Bannon served 4 months in 2024 after his 2022 conviction). Execution: This is the route typically threatened or used in high-profile cases involving subpoenas, as it relies on the Department of Justice for prosecution (which can decline, especially in executive privilege disputes). Inherent Contempt (Rare and Extreme Direct Enforcement) Congress can exercise its inherent (constitutional) power to hold someone in contempt without referring to the courts or DOJ. This involves the House or Senate conducting its own proceedings, potentially arresting/detaining the person via the Sergeant-at-Arms, and imposing punishment directly. Historical Context: Historically, this has included short-term imprisonment (e.g., 10 days in a 1934 Senate case), but punishment generally cannot extend beyond the end of the current congressional session. Modern Proposals: Modern proposals and attempts (e.g., resolutions in recent years) have focused on monetary fines rather than detention, with suggested caps like $100,000 total or escalating daily fines (e.g., $10,000 per day in failed 2024 attempts). Practical Limitations: No recent successful use of inherent contempt has imposed extreme long-term penalties, and legal opinions (especially from the executive branch) often challenge its application against officials citing executive privilege. Summary of Findings In summary, the harshest realistic maximum under current law and precedent is up to 1 year in prison plus a $100,000 fine via criminal contempt prosecution. Inherent contempt theoretically allows for immediate detention or fines but has not been used for severe, prolonged punishment in modern times and remains limited by practical and constitutional constraints. Prosecution and severe outcomes are rare due to political discretion and separation-of-powers issues.