Speaker Mike Johnson announced a stringent noon deadline for former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to outline their plans for complying with subpoenas from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. As of now, the subpoenas remain unanswered, escalating tensions on Capitol Hill.

The subpoenas, part of an investigation into the Clintons' alleged connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, have been a point of contention, with the Clintons dismissing the process as biased and a setup for humiliation and potential incarceration. However, the GOP leadership insists on adherence to the legal demands, with criminal contempt charges on the horizon if the Clintons fail to respond adequately by the deadline.

“We're holding off until noon,” Johnson stated in a Tuesday morning interview. “They have a deadline until noon to work out the details, and if it's not done satisfactorily, then we'll proceed with the contempt.”

Echoing Johnson's sentiments, Majority Leader Steve Scalise mentioned that failure to provide the necessary details by the deadline will lead Republicans to proceed with a scheduled vote on Wednesday. This move comes after an unexpected reversal from the Clintons, who had previously resisted the subpoenas for months.

The controversy centers around the terms of the deposition. According to sources close to the matter, the House Oversight Committee is adamant that the Clintons adhere to the original conditions of the subpoenas. These conditions stipulate that the depositions be transcribed and filmed without any restrictions on duration, set to take place in February.

As Capitol Hill awaits the Clintons' decision, the outcome of this standoff will likely have significant political ramifications, signaling either a potential easing of tensions or a further escalation if the contempt vote moves forward. The next few hours are crucial as both sides navigate this high-stakes confrontation.