Clintons Agree to Testify in House Epstein Probe as Contempt Vote Looms

WASHINGTON — In a significant development, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee as part of its probe into the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The decision comes just ahead of a scheduled House vote to hold the couple in contempt of Congress for initially refusing to comply with subpoenas.

The announcement was made Monday by Bill Clinton's spokesperson, Angel Ureña, who accused Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) of negotiating in bad faith. "They are prepared to appear and answer questions," Ureña stated in a social media post responding to Comer's latest letter. "They look forward to setting a precedent that applies equally to all. The Chairman's political theatrics, however, have poisoned this process from the start."

Chairman Comer responded hours later, expressing skepticism. "While their attorneys now claim agreement, the terms remain vague and no deposition dates have been provided," Comer said in a statement. "This last-minute reversal is clearly a tactic to avoid a contempt vote. We will seek immediate clarity on their commitment."

The Oversight Committee had already advanced contempt resolutions to the full House, with a vote expected this week. The Clintons were subpoenaed in August alongside several former high-ranking Justice Department officials and FBI directors, as part of a sweeping inquiry into the investigations and prosecutions surrounding the late financier and convicted sex offender.

The agreement to testify follows the Justice Department's release on Friday of over 3.5 million pages of documents related to Epstein—approximately half of the material it has collected. The documents, many heavily redacted, are part of an ongoing effort to provide transparency into Epstein's network and the official response to his crimes.

Previous document dumps have included references to Bill Clinton, whose spokesperson has acknowledged he flew on Epstein's plane for charity work in the early 2000s—before Epstein faced sex crime charges. Clinton has repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein's illegal activities, stating he severed ties years before Epstein's 2006 arrest.

The Clintons' legal team had previously proposed a four-hour transcribed interview for Bill Clinton in New York, with questions limited to Epstein-related matters. For Hillary Clinton, they suggested a written sworn declaration, with an in-person interview as a fallback. Comer rejected that proposal, calling the precondition to withdraw the subpoena "unreasonable."

Analysis: The Clintons' reversal highlights the high-stakes pressure of a congressional contempt vote, which carries legal and political repercussions. This probe intersects with broader partisan battles over oversight authority and the lingering, unresolved questions about the extent of Epstein's connections to powerful figures. The testimony, if it occurs, will be scrutinized not only for content but as a benchmark for how Congress investigates elite networks.

Sarah Chen, Political Analyst, Georgetown University: "This is a strategic retreat. Testifying under oath, even in a limited setting, is less damaging than a contempt citation and the public narrative that would follow. It doesn't end the committee's pursuit, but it changes the battlefield."

Marcus Johnson, Former Federal Prosecutor: "The DOJ's document release creates a factual backdrop that makes outright refusal to cooperate increasingly untenable. The committee now has a paper trail—however redacted—to frame its questions."

Rebecca Vance, Host of 'The Accountability Podcast': "This is a disgraceful game of delay and obfuscation. They've dodged for months and only budge when facing concrete consequences. The American public deserves answers, not last-minute legal maneuvering to save face."

David Park, Congressional Historian: "We're seeing a classic confrontation between congressional oversight power and the resistance of former high-executive officials. The outcome will set a modern precedent for the limits of compelled testimony from ex-presidents and their families."

This report includes information originally published by NBC News.