In a dramatic shift that has sent shockwaves through Washington, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee. The announcement, made late Monday, comes just as the House was poised to hold the couple in criminal contempt of Congress for repeatedly defying subpoenas related to the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The breakthrough occurred during a tense session of the House Rules Committee. As Republican Chairman James Comer was moving the contempt resolutions forward, a legal representative for the Clintons emailed the panel to confirm they would “accept the terms” of the committee’s demands and appear for depositions on “mutually agreeable dates.” This concession marks a significant capitulation for the Clintons, who had for months argued that the subpoenas were “legally invalid” and politically motivated.
Chairman Comer, while acknowledging the offer, cautioned that the agreement is not yet finalized. “The only reason they have said they agree to terms is because the House has moved forward with contempt,” Comer stated. He emphasized that the committee will insist on sworn depositions rather than the written declarations or limited interviews previously proposed by the Clintons’ legal team.
The probe is focused on the Clintons’ potential knowledge of Epstein’s activities and the federal government’s handling of previous investigations. While neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of criminal wrongdoing, Bill Clinton’s documented history of flying on Epstein’s private jet in the early 2000s has remained a central point of scrutiny. Republican lawmakers are also examining Hillary Clinton’s oversight of anti-human trafficking efforts during her tenure at the State Department.
The House Rules Committee has temporarily postponed the contempt vote to allow for the finalization of deposition dates. If the negotiations fail, the Clintons could still face the unprecedented prospect of criminal contempt charges, which carry the threat of fines or incarceration.
For the USAfrica community and the global diaspora, the high-stakes testimony of a former U.S. President and Secretary of State underscores a rare moment of institutional accountability. As the public demands a full reckoning of the Epstein scandal, the upcoming depositions are expected to be among the most closely watched congressional proceedings in modern history.
