Epstein case: Hillary and Bill Clinton to testify in House – The Times of India
Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the house oversight committee as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after Republican lawmakers moved toward holding them in criminal contempt of Congress.House oversight committee chair Republican representative James Comer said late Monday that attorneys for the Clintons had informed committee staff that both would comply with the subpoenas and “will appear for depositions on mutually agreeable dates.” However, Comer said no final agreement had been reached and that contempt proceedings were still on the table.“We don’t have anything in writing,” Comer told reporters, adding that while he was open to accepting the offer, “it depends on what they say.”The last-minute talks came as Republican leaders advanced contempt resolutions through the house rules committee, the final step before a vote on the house floor. If approved and prosecuted by the department of justice, criminal contempt charges could carry penalties including fines and possible jail time – an unprecedented step against a former president.Earlier on Monday, Comer rejected a proposal from the Clintons’ attorneys that would have allowed Bill Clinton to sit for a four-hour transcribed interview while Hillary Clinton submitted a sworn written statement. Comer insisted that both testify under oath in sworn depositions to meet the committee’s subpoenas.“The Clintons do not get to dictate the terms of lawful subpoenas,” Comer said.The oversight committee subpoenaed both Clintons in August as it launched its investigation into Epstein and his associates. Their attorneys had challenged the validity of the subpoenas, but negotiations resumed after Comer threatened contempt proceedings. The Republican-controlled panel voted last month to advance criminal contempt charges, with nine Democrats joining Republicans in backing the move against Bill Clinton, and three Democrats supporting the charge against Hillary Clinton.Republicans have renewed scrutiny of Bill Clinton’s past association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges. Clinton’s interactions with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s have been documented, though he has not been accused of wrongdoing.The Clintons have criticised Comer’s handling of the investigation, accusing him of politicising the probe while failing to press the Trump administration over delays in releasing Justice Department files related to Epstein.“They negotiated in good faith. You did not,” Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña said. “They told you under oath what they know, but you don’t care.”House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said his caucus would discuss the contempt resolutions later this week but made clear his opposition. Jeffries said he was a “hard no” on contempt and accused Republicans of pursuing political retribution rather than addressing the delayed release of Epstein-related records.“They don’t want a serious interview, they want a charade,” Jeffries said.Historically, Congress has shown deference to former presidents, none of whom has ever been compelled to testify before lawmakers, though some have done so voluntarily. (With inputs from agencies)