In a significant development, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to provide testimony before Congress concerning their associations with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. After extensive negotiations spanning several months, the couple has agreed to comply with congressional subpoenas, averting potential contempt charges.
Deposition Details and Schedule
Hillary Clinton is set to appear for a deposition before the House Oversight Committee on February 26, with Bill Clinton following on February 27. These sessions will be conducted behind closed doors, which is standard procedure for depositions, and will be both transcribed and filmed. This marks a historic precedent, as it represents the first instance where a former U.S. president will testify before Congress following the issuance of a subpoena.
Political Context and Committee Statements
James Comer, the Republican Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, issued a media statement emphasising the bipartisan nature of the investigation. He declared, 'Republicans and Democrats on the Oversight Committee have been clear: no one is above the law—and that includes the Clintons.' Comer noted that the Clintons 'completely caved and will appear for transcribed, filmed depositions this month,' adding that the committee looks forward to questioning them to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and survivors of Epstein's crimes.
A contempt vote before the full Republican-led House of Representatives, which was imminent this week, has now been cancelled following the Clintons' agreement to testify. This vote would have sought to hold the couple in contempt of Congress for defying the subpoenas.
Democratic Perspectives and Negotiations
Clinton spokesman Angle Urena stated on social media platform X that the Clintons 'negotiated in good faith' with the committee and 'look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone' through their testimonies. Meanwhile, Congressman Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, expressed during a CNN appearance that he would be willing to vote to hold both Clintons in contempt, but only if Attorney General Pam Bondi is also held in contempt for not releasing Epstein files promptly. Raskin emphasised, 'I want all of the information from everybody, and I want everybody to come forward and comply.'
Committee Votes and Allegations
Last month, the House Oversight Committee advanced resolutions to criminally charge both Clintons with contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas related to the Epstein investigation. The committee voted 34-8-2 in favour of Bill Clinton's resolution and 28-15-1 for Hillary Clinton's on January 21. Notably, nine Democrats supported Bill Clinton's contempt resolution, while only three backed Hillary's.
An effort to include Attorney General Pam Bondi in the contempt charges for delays in releasing Epstein files failed during a committee meeting last month.
Background and Investigative Context
Chairman Comer successfully persuaded a significant portion of committee members that the Clintons were defying the subpoenas. Despite the Clintons' expressed willingness to engage with committee staff and negotiate the terms of their questioning over five months, Comer dismissed these talks as a 'stall tactic,' accusing them of attempting to delay the Republican-led investigation until the next Congress.
To avoid contempt charges, the Clintons' legal team previously offered a meeting with Bill Clinton alone in New York without an official transcript, an offer that Comer rejected. The investigation continues to focus on uncovering details about the Clintons' ties to Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, with released images from the U.S. Department of Justice showing Bill Clinton in proximity to both individuals.
