Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify in a congressional investigation connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Why Are the Clintons Being Called in the Epstein Investigation?
Their decision comes just days before lawmakers were preparing to vote on whether to hold them in criminal contempt of Congress. This vote was linked to their earlier refusal to appear before the House Oversight Committee after a long dispute that lasted several months.
The House Oversight Committee, which is led by Republicans, approved a step late last month to move forward with contempt action. Some Democrats also supported this move.
However, on Monday evening, Clinton deputy chief of staff Angel Ureña confirmed on X that the couple would now cooperate and appear before the panel.Â
“They negotiated in good faith,” Ureña wrote in a tweet directed at the House Oversight Committee. “You did not. “They told you under oath what they know, but you don’t care. But the former President and former Secretary of State will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.”
Historic Moment: First Former President to Testify Since 1983
The exact date of the Clintons’ depositions is still unknown. But if the testimony takes place, it will be historic. No former US president has testified before a congressional committee since Gerald Ford did so in 1983.
Bill Clinton’s Past Association With Jeffrey Epstein
Bill Clinton knew Jeffrey Epstein years ago. Still, he has clearly said he did not know about Epstein’s sexual crimes. He also states that he ended all contact with Epstein about two decades ago.
Importantly, no survivor of Epstein’s abuse has accused Bill Clinton of wrongdoing.
Private Jet Flights and Photos From Epstein’s Estate
Flight logs from Epstein’s private jet show that Clinton took four international trips in 2002 and 2003. In addition, photos released by the US Justice Department show Clinton at Epstein’s estate. These records were made public under a law requiring the release of investigation material related to Epstein.
One photo shows Clinton swimming in a pool. Another shows him lying back with his hands behind his head in what looks like a hot tub. When the images were released in December, Ureña said the photos were very old. He also said Clinton had stopped meeting Epstein before his crimes became public.
Clintons Say They Already Shared Information Links to Epstein Investigation
Both Clintons say they had already given sworn statements to the committee earlier. They also said they had provided the limited information they knew about Epstein. They described the legal summonses as nothing more than a ploy to attempt to embarrass political rivals, as President Trump has directed.
Clintons Letter to House Oversight Chairman James Comer
Last month, the Clintons sent a letter to committee chairman James Comer, criticizing his handling of the investigation.
The letter said, “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.” Further they added, “There is no plausible explanation for what you are doing other than partisan politics.”
James Comer Defends the Epstein Investigation
Chairman Comer said the subpoenas were approved with support from both political parties. He stressed that no-one is above the law.
He also said, “We communicated with President Clinton’s legal team for months now, giving them opportunity after opportunity to come in, to give us a day, and they continue to delay, delay, delay,” said the Kentucky Republican.
