Additional Coverage:
Clintons to Face House Oversight Committee in Epstein Probe
Washington D.C. – Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are set to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee at the end of this month, following weeks of negotiations and the threat of contempt of Congress charges.
Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) announced that Hillary Clinton will undergo a closed-door transcribed interview on February 26, with Bill Clinton appearing under the same terms on February 27. Both interviews will be filmed.
The agreement comes after a prolonged standoff between the former first couple and the House GOP-led committee regarding their testimony in the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The Clintons had been facing potential contempt of Congress votes this week if they did not agree to in-person interviews.
Such votes were likely to pass, given that several House Oversight Committee Democrats had previously joined Republicans in advancing contempt resolutions against both Clintons. A contempt of Congress conviction is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to a year in jail, and would refer the individuals to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution.
“Republicans and Democrats on the Oversight Committee have been clear: no one is above the law – and that includes the Clintons,” Chairman Comer stated. “After delaying and defying duly issued subpoenas for six months, the House Oversight Committee moved swiftly to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings in response to their non-compliance.”
Comer added, “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. We look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors.”
The Clintons were among ten individuals subpoenaed by the committee as part of its probe into the federal government’s handling of Epstein’s case. To date, only former Attorney General Bill Barr and former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta have appeared in person.
Attorneys for the Clintons had previously argued that the subpoenas were legally invalid and violated the separation of powers. However, the committee rejected these arguments.
The two sides engaged in extensive back-and-forth discussions regarding the terms of testimony. Chairman Comer notably rejected offers for himself and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, to travel to New York for limited staff interviews with Bill Clinton.
While Bill Clinton was known to have a friendship with Epstein prior to his federal criminal charges and has appeared in documents released by the Department of Justice related to the late pedophile, there has been no implication of wrongdoing by either of the Clintons in connection with Epstein.
With the threat of criminal prosecution looming, the Clintons’ attorneys informed the committee on Monday, “My clients accept the terms of your letter and will appear for depositions on mutually agreeable dates. As has been the Committee’s practice, please confirm the House will not move forward with contempt proceedings, as the Chairman stated in his letter this morning.”