The House Oversight Committee has scheduled in-person testimony from former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton later this month in connection with the congressional probe into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, Committee Chair James Comer announced on Tuesday.
According to Comer's statement, Hillary Clinton will give her deposition on February 26 and Bill Clinton will follow on February 27. Both sessions will be transcribed and recorded on video, the statement said.
"We look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and (Ghislaine) Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors," Comer said.
The decision for the Clintons to appear in person came after Republican leaders in the House had prepared to hold the two prominent Democrats in contempt for declining to testify before the panel. The committee had recommended last week that the Clintons be held in contempt for refusing to answer questions about their connections with Epstein.
Previously, the Clintons had signaled a willingness to cooperate with the committee on the investigation but declined to provide in-person testimony, characterizing the inquiry as a partisan undertaking intended to benefit Republican President Donald Trump. Following the committee recommendation, however, they agreed to appear before investigators in person.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the planned contempt vote is temporarily suspended. "Contempt is on pause to ensure that everybody goes through with their obligation," Johnson said when asked about the status of the vote.
When asked whether the Clintons would be permitted to testify publicly, Johnson said he would need to consult with Chairman Comer, adding: "I have to talk to Chairman Comer about that. It’s his operation."
Spokespeople for both Bill and Hillary Clinton did not immediately provide comment in response to requests.
The Justice Department recently released millions of documents related to Epstein, revealing the late financier's connections to numerous individuals across politics, finance, academia and business, both before and after his 2008 guilty plea on prostitution-related charges. Those documents include images and travel records that have drawn public attention.
The released materials show Bill Clinton traveling on Epstein's plane multiple times in the early 2000s after he left office, and include photographs of him swimming and posing with women whose faces were redacted. Clinton has expressed regret about his association with Epstein and stated he was unaware of Epstein's criminal conduct.
Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019; his death was ruled a suicide. Ghislaine Maxwell, identified in the investigation as Epstein's former girlfriend and a British socialite, is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted on charges including sex trafficking of a minor.
Context for investors and markets
The committee's move to take in-person testimony from two high-profile political figures follows intensified scrutiny after the Justice Department released internal documents related to Epstein. For market participants and observers of political risk, the developments underscore continued congressional focus on high-profile networks and accountability processes that can influence political narratives and regulatory attention, notably in sectors linked to finance and institutions cited in the released materials.
While the immediate economic impact of the testimony is uncertain, the proceedings could influence political risk assessments and attention toward financial and governance issues tied to prominent private actors.