House Republican leaders set a deadline of noon on Tuesday for former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to reach an agreement to testify before the House Oversight Committee in its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The deadline came as the committee sought depositions from the Clintons as part of its broader inquiry.
Following negotiations, both Bill and Hillary Clinton agreed to sit for closed-door depositions with the committee. Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, announced that the Clintons had acceded to the request and would appear for interviews related to the Epstein probe. The decision ended weeks of back-and-forth as the committee pursued testimony to clarify the Clintons’ connections and any potential involvement or knowledge regarding Epstein’s activities.
The depositions are scheduled for later this month, with Hillary Clinton set to appear on February 26 and Bill Clinton on February 27. These sessions will take place behind closed doors and form part of the committee’s effort to gather information relevant to its investigation into Epstein’s network and alleged misconduct.
The House Oversight Committee has been investigating various aspects of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal enterprise and connections to prominent individuals. The inquiries focus on examining who may have facilitated or enabled Epstein’s activities and assessing accountability where necessary. The committee’s examination expanded to include high-profile figures encountered in Epstein’s social and political circles, leading to the subpoenas directed at the Clintons.
Chairman Comer emphasized the committee’s authority to conduct interviews as part of its oversight functions, underlining the importance of obtaining sworn testimony. The committee’s actions arise within the legislative branch’s broader mandate to hold individuals and entities accountable through investigations that inform potential legislative remedies and ensure government transparency.
The Clinton depositions represent a significant step in the committee’s investigation timeline. The appearance of both former officials under oath aims to aid the committee’s understanding of past events and evaluate any relevant evidence connected to the Epstein case.
This development follows prior announcements by the House Oversight Committee that it had issued subpoenas to both Bill and Hillary Clinton and had considered holding them in contempt of Congress for noncompliance. The agreement to testify averts further escalation toward contempt proceedings.
The Epstein investigation by the House Oversight Committee continues alongside other ongoing inquiries by federal and state authorities into Epstein’s criminal activities and associates. The committee’s focus remains on uncovering facts related to social networks and potential misconduct linked to Epstein’s operations and those implicated by association.
The upcoming closed-door sessions with the Clintons will contribute to the committee’s accumulation of information to form a comprehensive understanding of the Epstein case as it relates to political figures and other individuals of interest within the scope of the investigation.
