In a turn of events that might surprise few, Bill and Hillary Clinton have declined an invitation from the House Oversight Committee. They were asked to testify regarding their connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a figure embroiled in endless controversy. The Clintons’ lawyers sent an eight-page letter stating they’ve already shared whatever limited information they possess about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. According to their legal team, this investigation is nothing but a grand attempt to embarrass political opponents of a certain former president. Now, isn’t that a familiar tune we’ve heard before?

This refusal to testify led the Committee Chairman to speak out, expressing the next steps, which involve holding Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress over his no-show. The subpoena for Clinton was not a single-party decision, but a unanimous, bipartisan vote by the committee. It seems Republicans aren’t the only ones interested in getting answers from the former president. One might start to suspect that perhaps Clinton’s schedule just suddenly got too busy, right around when these questions came knocking at his door.

To add fuel to the fire, there are documented reports of Epstein having been a visitor to the White House 17 times when Clinton was president. Additionally, post-presidency, Clinton is known to have taken 27 flights on Epstein’s private plane. Now, that’s quite a frequent flyer record! By avoiding testimony, the Clintons may be hoping the whole issue will simply fade into the political background noise. However, the Oversight Committee is not keen on letting go of this bone. They’ve been working hard to dig up facts, hearing from a wide array of witnesses, even ones on their own political spectrum. Perhaps this bipartisan curiosity is more about finding truth and less about playing politics than Clinton’s legal team would have us believe.

While Hillary remains mostly sidelined in this theater, Bill Clinton’s reluctance to testify has raised eyebrows. Many Americans still itch for the truth about Epstein, particularly how government and influential figures may have been complicit in failing victims. That too, regardless of their own party lines. Facing the music is something politicians often preach about, but apparently, applying the same to themselves isn’t in the manual for everyone. If there’s nothing to answer for, would it not be easier for Clinton to simply show up and put these doubts to rest?

Meanwhile, flashbacks of Epstein’s ejection from Donald Trump’s club rear their head. It serves as a contrasting reminder of how swiftly the former president claimed to have acted upon discomforting behavior. Yet, here we are, with Clinton maintaining an unyielding silence, letting unanswered questions pile up like old newspapers in a forgotten attic. The American public is eager for some clear answers to this saga, but it appears the wait might be longer than anticipated. For now, the Oversight Committee continues its quest, promising that this cliffhanger won’t just fade into oblivion without some form of resolution.