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Bill Clinton, former President of the United States, along with Hillary Clinton, who was the Democratic nominee for the presidency in 2016, have agreed to participate in a congressional investigation concerning the late Jeffrey Epstein, a staff member announced on Monday.
This move might preempt a scheduled vote by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which was considering holding the Clintons in contempt. Such a vote could potentially result in criminal charges against the well-known Democratic figures.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice released a substantial cache of internal documents related to Epstein, shedding light on his connections with numerous influential individuals across various sectors including politics, finance, academia, and business. These associations were established both before and after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to charges of prostitution.
In response to inquiries about whether the House would delay its contempt vote against the Clintons, House Speaker Mike Johnson informed Reuters, “They’re working on that right now. The lawyers are looking into the details.”
Previously, Johnson had expressed approval of the news that both the former president and the former secretary of state had agreed to provide their testimonies.
Contempt of Congress vote
The House Oversight Committee recommended last week that the Clintons be held in contempt for refusing to testify about their relationship with Epstein.
The Clintons had offered to cooperate with the panel but had refused to appear in person, saying the investigation was a partisan exercise aimed at protecting Republican President Donald Trump.
“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,” the Clintons’ deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, said on social media.
Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane several times in the early 2000s after leaving office. He has expressed regret about the relationship and said he knew nothing about Epstein’s criminal activity.
Republican US representative James Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, said on Monday the Clintons have not given a date for their depositions and that he will discuss next steps with panel members.
“The Clintons’ counsel has said they agree to terms, but those terms lack clarity yet again and they have provided no dates for their depositions,” Comer said.
“I will clarify the terms they are agreeing to and then discuss next steps with my committee members.”
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