Clintons to Testify in Congressional Epstein Probe

Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before Congress as part of a widening investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a move that may avert potential contempt of Congress proceedings.

A spokesperson for the Clintons confirmed late Monday that the couple had consented to provide testimony, following mounting pressure from the Republican-led House Oversight Committee. The agreement prompted lawmakers to temporarily suspend plans to hold a vote that could have led to fines or other penalties for failure to comply with a congressional inquiry.

“The Clintons look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone,” spokesperson Angel Urena said in a statement posted on X, adding that the couple had sought to cooperate while maintaining that the investigation had been handled in a politically charged manner.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said the Clintons had agreed in principle to testify, although specific dates and conditions have yet to be finalized. He indicated that committee leaders would now review the terms of the agreement before determining next procedural steps.

The contempt threat had followed the couple’s earlier refusal to appear in person, with Republican lawmakers arguing that no individuals are above congressional oversight. The Clintons, however, have characterized the inquiry as politically motivated and aimed at deflecting attention from other high-profile figures named in the newly released Epstein files.

The investigation follows the US Justice Department’s release last week of more than three million pages of documents, along with thousands of videos and images, related to Epstein’s activities and his connections to prominent political and business figures. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have described the disclosures as one of the largest document releases connected to the long-running Epstein case.

Epstein, a New York financier, was accused of operating a years-long sex trafficking and abuse network involving underage girls.

He pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution and died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of recruiting and grooming victims for Epstein.

The latest developments underscore renewed congressional and public scrutiny of Epstein’s extensive network of political, social and financial ties, as lawmakers seek to determine who may have had knowledge of, or involvement in, his criminal activities.