Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have agreed to testify before the US Congress as part of the investigation into the Epstein scandal.
02/03/2026, 04:0802/03/2026, 07:24
In doing so, they want to forestall impending proceedings for contempt of Congress, as the US broadcaster CNN and the New York Times both reported.
Bill and Hillary Clinton.Image: keystone
Allegations of political motives
The Clintons’ lawyers told the US House of Representatives committee that the couple would be willing to testify in person and under oath at mutually agreed upon dates. The two Democrats had previously refused for months to testify in the US Congress on the investigation into the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. At the same time, they accused the Republican chairman of the oversight committee, James Comer, of conducting a politically motivated process.
It was initially unclear whether Comer would now accept the Clintons’ offer. The Republican leadership had recently initiated proceedings against the Clintons for contempt of Congress. A conviction of a former US president in such a case would be unique.
“The Clintons are not above the law”
According to the committee, the background to the dispute is that the Clintons have not complied with subpoenas for months. It was now said on Platform “The Clintons are not above the law,” it continued.
Bill Clinton’s deputy chief of staff contradicted the accusation. On X it was said that the ex-president and his wife had negotiated in good faith and had already disclosed what they knew under oath. The Clintons are ready to appear in person. “They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone,” wrote the ex-president’s press secretary on X.
According to US media reports, the Clintons’ latest offer was received during ongoing committee deliberations, when formal contempt proceedings were already being discussed. The committee had rejected previous proposals, including a voluntary survey outside Washington.
Clinton appears in Epstein documents
Bill Clinton’s name and images appeared in documents related to the Epstein investigation. But a mention per se means nothing. The former president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in connection with his acquaintance with Epstein.
For years, multimillionaire Epstein from New York ran an abuse ring that victimized dozens of young women and minors. He is said to have abused minors himself over several years in New York and Florida. In 2019, Epstein died in prison at the age of 66, before any further sentencing could have taken place. (sda/dpa)