Clintons agree to testify in House Epstein investigation after contempt threat

Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify in a House of Representatives investigation linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, following weeks of escalating pressure from a Republican-led committee. The move comes after lawmakers threatened criminal contempt charges if the former president and former secretary of state did not appear. A spokesman said both Clintons are prepared to cooperate and testify.

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What prompted the House Committee’s threat?

The agreement followed a public clash between the Clintons and the Republican-led House Oversight Committee. Earlier on Monday, the committee warned it could hold both Bill and Hillary Clinton in criminal contempt of Congress if they refused to testify in person about their links to Epstein, who died in custody in 2019.


The threat escalated after the House Rules Committee advanced resolutions accusing the Clintons of defying subpoenas. Republicans claimed the couple was attempting to avoid appearing before the panel, framing the dispute as a refusal to comply with congressional oversight, as per a report by Sky News.

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Why did the Clintons agree to testify?

Angel Ureña, the former president’s deputy chief of staff, responded publicly on X to the committee’s accusations. He rejected claims that the Clintons were dodging subpoenas and accused lawmakers of acting in bad faith.

“They negotiated in good faith. You did not. They told you under oath what they know, but you don’t care,” Ureña wrote.
“But the former President and former Secretary of State will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.”

According to a committee letter sent to the Clintons’ lawyers, the couple had previously offered alternatives. Bill Clinton proposed giving a transcribed interview on “matters related to the investigations and prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein,” while Hillary Clinton offered to submit a sworn declaration, as per a report by Sky News.

What did Republicans reject?

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer rejected those offers earlier on Monday. Comer insisted that both Clintons appear in person, dismissing the proposed interview and sworn statement as insufficient.

Republicans accused the Clintons of requesting special treatment, arguing that the oversight panel was entitled to question them directly. The committee advanced criminal contempt charges last month, warning that failure to testify could lead to penalties.


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How serious are the stakes?

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have consented to participate in private depositions for the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

The House was anticipated to vote on Wednesday about two contempt of Congress resolutions against the Clintons, until the Clintons conceded to GOP demands on Monday evening, as quoted in a report by ABC News.

The Epstein investigation continues to cast a long shadow over Washington, drawing in prominent political figures and intensifying partisan battles on Capitol Hill.

Bill Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, though the two were known to have a friendship in the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2024, Clinton said, “I wish I had never met him.”

FAQs

Why are the Clintons agreeing to testify now?
They agreed after House Republicans threatened criminal contempt charges if they did not appear.

Have the Clintons been accused of crimes linked to Epstein?
No. Bill Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.