Clintons Agree to Testify in Epstein Probe After Months-Long Standoff

For the first time since 1983, a former US president will testify before Congress. Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton have agreed to appear in the House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, ending a months-long standoff that nearly resulted in criminal contempt charges.

The decision comes just days before a scheduled vote on whether to hold the couple in contempt for refusing to appear before the House Oversight Committee. It marks a significant moment in American political accountability—and raises questions about how far congressional oversight can reach into the lives of former presidents.

A Last-Minute Deal

Bill Clinton will provide a deposition on February 27th, while Hillary Clinton will appear on February 26th. The House Oversight Committee demanded that depositions be filmed and transcribed with no time limits—terms the Clintons ultimately accepted.

James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said both parties were clear: "no one is above the law—and that includes the Clintons."

The Clintons had long resisted appearing, arguing they'd already provided sworn statements containing the "limited information" they possessed about Epstein. They dismissed the legal summonses as "nothing more than a ploy to attempt to embarrass political rivals, as President Trump has directed."

The Epstein Connection

Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire financier who died in prison in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges, had documented connections to Bill Clinton. Flight logs show Clinton took four international flights on Epstein's private jet in 2002 and 2003, which Clinton's team said were related to Clinton Foundation work.

Recently released Justice Department files include photos of Clinton at Epstein's estate—one showing him swimming in a pool, another showing him relaxing in what appears to be a hot tub. Clinton's spokesman emphasized these photos were decades old and that Clinton had "stopped associating with Epstein before his crimes came to light."

Neither Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein's survivors, and both have denied knowledge of his sex offending. Hillary Clinton has stated she never met or spoke to Epstein.

Political Theater or Legitimate Oversight?

The investigation sits at the intersection of legitimate oversight and political theater. Last month, the Clintons wrote to Comer, criticizing his handling of the probe: "The decisions you have made, and the priorities you have set as chairman regarding the Epstein investigation, have prevented progress in discovering the facts about the government's role."

They added: "There is no plausible explanation for what you are doing other than partisan politics."

Yet the contempt resolution gained support from several Democrats, suggesting the matter transcends pure partisan lines. The Republican-led committee's approval of contempt charges created real legal jeopardy that ultimately forced the Clintons' hand.

Angel Ureña, Clinton's Deputy Chief of Staff, framed their eventual cooperation as setting "a precedent that applies to everyone," while criticizing the committee's negotiating approach: "They negotiated in good faith. You did not."

Unprecedented Territory

This testimony breaks new ground in presidential accountability. The last former president to testify before Congress was Gerald Ford in 1983, regarding his pardon of Richard Nixon. That Clinton—a figure who's remained politically active and whose wife was the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee—will now face congressional questioning reflects how the boundaries of post-presidential immunity continue to evolve.

The timing also matters. With the 2024 election cycle underway and Trump facing his own legal challenges, the Clintons' testimony could set precedents for how former presidents navigate congressional oversight in an era of intense political polarization.