BY MIRABEL ODETA
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify as part of a congressional investigation examining the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a congressional staffer. The move comes as Republican lawmakers were preparing to force a vote in the House of Representatives that could have held the two high-profile Democrats in contempt of Congress, a step that can carry potential criminal consequences.
The decision to cooperate appears aimed at defusing mounting political pressure in the Republican-controlled House, where leaders had signaled frustration over what they described as resistance from the Clintons to appear in person. House Speaker Mike Johnson said discussions were ongoing between lawyers for both sides to work out the details of the testimony, indicating that a planned contempt vote could be delayed or dropped if an agreement is finalized. Johnson said earlier he welcomed the Clintons’ willingness to testify, calling it an important step for the investigation.
The inquiry has gained renewed attention following the Justice Department’s recent release of millions of pages of internal records tied to Epstein. Those documents shed further light on Epstein’s extensive network of connections across politics, finance, academia, and business, both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution-related charges. Lawmakers say the new material has raised questions about who knew what about Epstein’s conduct and when.
The House Oversight Committee recommended last week that Bill and Hillary Clinton be held in contempt for declining to testify in person about their interactions with Epstein. The Clintons had previously said they were willing to cooperate with the committee but objected to what they characterized as a partisan investigation, arguing that it was designed to shield Republican President Donald Trump from scrutiny while targeting political opponents.
In a public statement, Angel Ureña, the Clintons’ deputy chief of staff, said the couple was prepared to testify and expected the process to establish a standard that would apply equally to all individuals connected to the case. He said the Clintons had already provided information under oath and were looking forward to appearing, pushing back against claims that they were obstructing the investigation.
Bill Clinton has acknowledged traveling several times on Epstein’s private plane in the early 2000s after leaving the White House. He has said he regrets the association and has repeatedly maintained that he was unaware of any criminal activity by Epstein at the time. There has been no allegation that Clinton was involved in Epstein’s crimes.
Representative James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, said the Clintons’ attorneys had not yet provided specific dates for depositions, leaving key questions unresolved. Comer said he planned to seek clarification on the terms of their agreement to testify and then consult with committee members about the next steps.
As negotiations continue, the case underscores the broader political and legal fallout from the Epstein scandal, which continues to ripple through Washington years after his death, drawing in prominent figures and reigniting debates over accountability, transparency, and the scope of congressional oversight.
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