Clintons make U-turn on Epstein probe testimony

The ex-president and former secretary of state have bowed to the threat of a contempt of Congress vote

Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee in its investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The shift came after the panel moved toward a vote to hold the pair in contempt of Congress.

The Clintons have been under scrutiny over their connections to the late sex offender, including widely circulated photos showing the ex-president mingling with Epstein. Clinton has also acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private jet in the early 2000s, but has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of criminal activity.

The House Oversight Committee began seeking testimony from the Clintons last year, starting with informal outreach that later escalated into subpoenas. However, both Clintons were reluctant to appear, with their lawyers rejecting the subpoenas as “invalid and legally unenforceable” and saying they were exploring alternative ways to cooperate.

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The standoff escalated when the committee voted to advance a resolution on holding the Clintons in contempt of Congress, a move that drew support from some Democrats. In theory, if found in contempt, the case could be referred to the Justice Department, potentially opening a path toward criminal charges.

However, on Tuesday, Republican James Comer, who chairs the committee, announced that Bill and Hillary Clinton had “agreed to appear for transcribed, filmed depositions to face questioning as part of the investigation related to Jeffrey Epstein.” The two are slated to testify on February 27 and 26, respectively.

“Once it became clear that the House of Representatives would hold them in contempt, the Clintons completely caved and will appear [for deposition],” Comer said.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said plans to proceed with the contempt vote had been put on hold after the Clintons agreed to testify.

Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in a New York jail in 2019, in a death ruled a suicide. The circumstances surrounding his passing have since fueled conspiracy theories, including claims that he was killed to prevent the disclosure of compromising material involving prominent figures.