Clintons Set to Testify in Epstein Investigation Following Contempt Pressure
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to provide filmed, transcribed depositions to Congress this month, averting a potential contempt of Congress vote. The scheduled testimony comes after a bipartisan effort within the House Oversight Committee threatened to hold the couple in contempt for initially resisting subpoenas.
Deposition Dates Confirmed Amid Legal Standoff
Hillary Clinton's closed-door deposition is scheduled for February 26, with Bill Clinton's following on February 27. The agreement was reached as Republican leaders advanced a contempt resolution through the House Rules Committee, marking a significant escalation in the GOP-led investigation into federal handling of cases involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Republican Representative James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, stated: "Once it became clear that the House of Representatives would hold them in contempt, the Clintons completely caved and will appear for transcribed, filmed depositions this month." He emphasised that the committee's investigation aims to deliver "transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors."
From Resistance to Compliance
The Clintons had previously labelled the committee's subpoenas as "invalid and legally unenforceable" in a detailed letter that also criticised the Trump administration and Republican congressional leadership. Their attorneys initially requested Comer to halt contempt proceedings, which could have resulted in fines or even jail time if approved by the full House and prosecuted by the Department of Justice.
Monday saw Comer reject an alternative proposal from the Clintons' legal team, which would have involved Bill Clinton giving a transcribed interview and Hillary Clinton submitting a sworn declaration. The committee chair insisted instead on sworn depositions to fulfil the panel's subpoenas properly.
Bipartisan Support for Contempt Measures
The committee ultimately advanced criminal contempt of Congress charges with notable Democratic support. Nine of the committee's twenty-one Democrats joined Republicans in supporting charges against Bill Clinton, while three Democrats backed advancing charges against Hillary Clinton. This bipartisan pressure appears to have been instrumental in securing the Clintons' agreement to testify.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries commented on the situation, stating he was a "hard no" on contempt and accusing Comer of focusing on political retribution rather than properly investigating the delayed release of case files. Jeffries remarked: "They don't want a serious interview, they want a charade."
Investigation Focus and Political Context
The Republican-led committee has increasingly focused on prominent Democratic figures connected to Epstein, particularly following the release of Justice Department documents containing images of Bill Clinton with Epstein and others. The Clintons have accused Republicans of concentrating on "irrelevant, decades-old photos that you hope will embarrass us" rather than pursuing a substantive investigation into Epstein's crimes.
In their earlier correspondence, the Clintons wrote: "Despite everything that needs to be done to help our country, you are on the cusp of bringing Congress to a halt to pursue a rarely used process literally designed to result in our imprisonment." They maintained that they have never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, noting that inclusion of someone's name or images in case files does not imply guilt.
Legal and Political Implications
The agreement to testify represents a significant development in what could have become the first instance of Congress holding a former president in contempt with potential criminal penalties. The depositions will explore matters related to investigations and prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein, with Bill Clinton expected to undergo a four-hour interview specifically on these subjects.
Angel Ureña, a spokesperson for the Clintons, responded to Comer's threats by stating: "They negotiated in good faith. You did not. They told you under oath what they know, but you don't care." The testimony later this month will occur against the backdrop of ongoing political tensions and a broader examination of how powerful figures interacted with Epstein before his death in custody in 2019.
