Republicans Must “Take the Gloves Off” After Clintons Skip Epstein Testimony

House Republican Tim Burchett has demanded that Congress abandon its cautious approach to oversight following the refusal of former President Bill Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Clinton to appear in scheduled depositions related to their potential connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking on a recent program, Burchett criticized Republican leaders for not taking stronger action after the Clintons declined to testify before the House Oversight Committee last week. The Clintons were scheduled to provide testimony as part of the committee’s investigation into Epstein and his political ties, but their attorneys cited scheduling conflicts and claimed there was no legitimate justification for their appearance.

When asked why Republicans have not pursued more aggressive enforcement measures such as arrests or contempt referrals, Burchett stated that GOP leaders must shift course. “We need to toughen up,” he said, adding that he had recently raised the matter directly with House Speaker Mike Johnson in a private meeting.

“I told the speaker … we got to take the gloves off,” Burchett explained.

The Republican lawmaker warned that inaction risks eroding public trust. “America is demanding it,” he stressed.

Burchett drew parallels to former President Ronald Reagan, noting the precarious political margins: “Reagan said, ‘we’re one generation from losing this.’ What we have, we’re one vote series away, literally.”

He cautioned that minor disruptions could lead to significant shifts in power. “If we don’t watch our numbers… a bad case of the flu comes through there. They will sell us out as fast as they can,” he said.

Burchett further criticized what he described as hostility toward American institutions: “They hate this country. They hate our flag. They hate our veterans. They hate everything that we’ve accomplished or that we are.”

Following the Clintons’ refusal to appear, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer warned of potential contempt proceedings if they do not comply with subpoenas. Comer has scheduled former President Bill Clinton for January 13 and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for January 14.

Burchett’s comments come as tensions grow among Republicans who argue Democrats routinely use subpoena power while GOP leaders hesitate to escalate enforcement actions when necessary.