Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the U.S. House Oversight Committee as part of its ongoing investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to an aide to the panel.
The announcement comes days before a scheduled House vote on whether to hold the Clintons in criminal contempt of Congress for previously declining to comply with subpoenas in the investigation. Committee leaders had announced plans to advance contempt charges after the couple missed earlier deposition deadlines.
Attorneys for the Clintons said the couple will appear for sworn depositions on mutually agreed-upon dates and requested that the full chamber delay or withdraw the contempt vote. In a statement, representatives for the Clintons said they had “negotiated in good faith” and intended to participate in testimony.
“They negotiated in good faith. You did not,” spokesmen for the Clintons said in a statement. “They told under oath what they know, but you did not care. But the former president and former secretary of state will be there.”
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has said that in-person testimony is necessary for the panel’s inquiry, which focuses on the Clintons’ relationships with Epstein and information they may have about his activities. The committee has subpoenaed other individuals and documents as part of its investigation.
He also rejected any special caveats demanded by the former first couple.
“The Clintons are in contempt of Congress,” Comer posted on X. “Their attorneys’ latest letter makes clear they still expect special treatment because of their last name. The Clintons do not get to dictate the terms of lawful subpoenas.”
No dates have yet been finalized for the depositions, and the committee said it will continue negotiating with the Clintons’ legal team on scheduling and logistics.
The Clintons are not accused of any wrongdoing, but their long-standing social and professional connections to Epstein have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers seeking details as part of a broader review of how Epstein and his associates operated.
The Oversight Committee voted two weeks ago to hold the Clintons in contempt after they refused to comply with lawful congressional subpoenas compelling testimony.
The votes marked a major escalation in the House’s long-running probe into Epstein’s political connections and represent the first time Congress has moved toward contempt citations for a former president and former cabinet official simultaneously.
The Oversight Committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee had issued subpoenas on July 23, 2025, requiring both Clintons to testify about their past associations with Epstein. Lawmakers say the depositions were necessary to determine whether any federal agencies failed to pursue leads related to Epstein’s activities or his network of associates.
Bill Clinton was scheduled to appear on Jan. 13, followed by Hillary Clinton on Jan. 14, but both declined to attend. Their attorneys sent a letter to Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) calling the subpoenas “invalid” and “politically motivated,” arguing they lacked a legitimate legislative purpose.
In a joint public statement, the Clintons accused Republicans of “weaponizing Congress for political gain.”
“Despite everything that needs to be done to help our country, you are on the cusp of bringing Congress to a halt to pursue a rarely used process literally designed to result in our imprisonment,” the couple said. “This is not the way out of America’s ills, and we will forcefully defend ourselves.”
Republicans pushed forward anyway. The committee voted 34–8 to advance the contempt resolution against Bill Clinton, with nine Democrats joining Republicans and two members voting present.
A separate measure to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt passed 28–15, with three Democrats siding with Republicans.
Chairman Comer said the move was not political but a matter of principle. “The Committee does not take this action lightly,” he said..
