Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed to provide testimony in the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, averting a contempt of Congress vote that had been scheduled for Monday.
The last-minute agreement came after months of negotiations between the Clintons' attorneys and House Oversight Chairman James Comer, who subpoenaed both Clintons in August alongside several former Justice Department and FBI officials.
Angel Ureña, a spokesperson for Bill Clinton, said the Clintons "negotiated in good faith" and confirmed they "will be there" to testify. The statement emphasized their intent to "set a precedent that applies to everyone"—a pointed reference to ongoing debates about whether current and former officials should be exempt from congressional subpoenas.
However, Comer noted that significant details remain unresolved. "Those terms lack clarity yet again and they have provided no dates for their depositions," the Kentucky Republican said in a statement Monday evening. The specific timing and location of the testimony have not been finalized.
The House Rules Committee suspended consideration of contempt resolutions after learning of the Clintons' agreement to appear.
The Oversight Committee's investigation focuses on Epstein's alleged sex trafficking network and whether federal law enforcement adequately investigated his crimes. The committee subpoenaed the Clintons and others to testify "related to the horrific crimes perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein," according to the original August subpoena.
Bill Clinton has previously acknowledged a relationship with Epstein but stated he severed ties before 2006, when criminal allegations against the financier first emerged publicly. Flight logs showed Clinton traveled on Epstein's private jet multiple times in the early 2000s, though Clinton has denied knowledge of any criminal activity and said the trips were related to philanthropic work for the Clinton Foundation.
Hillary Clinton's team has questioned her relevance to the investigation, noting she had minimal contact with Epstein. Her lawyers have suggested the subpoena represents political theater rather than a legitimate investigative need.
The testimony agreement walks a fine line between legitimate congressional oversight and potential political weaponization of investigative powers. Former federal prosecutors told NBC News that while Congress has broad authority to compel testimony, witnesses also have rights to challenge subpoenas they believe are issued in bad faith.
As Americans like to say, "all politics is local"—even in Washington, where the Epstein investigation has become a focal point for both parties seeking to demonstrate accountability while avoiding the appearance of protecting powerful allies.
The Oversight Committee has not indicated when the depositions might occur, and it remains unclear whether the testimony will be public or conducted behind closed doors.
