Political Strategist James Carville Dismisses GOP's Epstein Probe as 'Dogs Chasing Cars,' Predicts Backfire

WASHINGTON — The Republican-led effort to compel testimony from Bill and Hillary Clinton regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files is facing blistering criticism from within Democratic circles, with veteran strategist James Carville dismissing the probe as political theater that will ultimately harm the GOP.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has issued subpoenas to the former president and first lady, who initially resisted but agreed this week to be deposed under threat of contempt proceedings. The depositions are scheduled for late February.

Carville, the architect of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential victory, argues that Republicans are making a strategic miscalculation by zeroing in on the Clintons while former President Donald Trump's name appears extensively in the same documents.

"This whole exercise reminds me of dogs chasing cars down here in the South," Carville told Politico in an interview. "You caught the car. Good. What are you going to do with it? The car stopped. Eat the hubcap."

The 81-year-old strategist offered a particularly scathing assessment of the anticipated confrontation between Clinton and Comer: "You've got one of the lowest IQ people to ever serve in the United States government matched against maybe the highest IQ person ever to serve."

Carville pointed to Hillary Clinton's 2015 Benghazi testimony—an 11-hour marathon session that ultimately produced no criminal charges—as evidence of her preparedness. He suggested the more attention Republicans bring to the Epstein files, the worse the outcome will be for them.

Broader Implications

Political analysts note that by establishing the precedent of compelling a former president's testimony, Republicans may have opened the door for future Democratic-led committees to subpoena Trump and his family members. The New York Times reported this week that Democratic staffers are already discussing potential lines of inquiry.

The proceedings' format remains contested. The Clintons have pushed for open hearings, while Comer insists on closed-door, transcribed depositions—a disagreement that underscores the highly partisan nature of the investigation.

Both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump have maintained relationships with Epstein, though Clinton's appears more extensively documented in the released files. Trump has called for investigations into Clinton's ties to the convicted sex offender, while Clinton has accused Republicans of engaging in a smear campaign to protect others.

Voices from the Public

Marcus Johnson, 52, Political Science Professor from Chicago: "Carville makes a valid point about precedent. If Republicans can drag a former president from the opposing party before Congress, what stops Democrats from doing the same next time they hold the gavel? This escalates political warfare."

Rebecca Torres, 38, Small Business Owner from Miami: "Finally someone is calling this what it is—a distraction. We have real issues in this country, and they're playing political games with serious documents. The focus should be on justice for victims, not scoring points."

David Chen, 45, Attorney from San Francisco: "The IQ comment was unnecessary, but Carville's core argument stands. This looks like selective prosecution. If we're examining connections to Epstein, let's examine all connections thoroughly and fairly, not just those convenient for one party."

Karen Briggs, 61, Retired Nurse from Atlanta (sharper tone): "This is absolute hypocrisy! The same party that screamed 'witch hunt' for years now drags an 80-year-old man before Congress? And Comer's committee hasn't produced anything substantive in two years of investigations. It's political vengeance, plain and simple."

The Daily Beast reached out to Representative Comer's office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.