House Committee Compels Clintons to Testify in Deepening Epstein Probe
The House Oversight Committee has significantly escalated its investigation into the associations of high-profile political figures with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, ordering former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to appear for depositions next month. The move signals a new, more confrontational phase of the probe, as Committee Chairman James Comer has rejected the Clintons’ offer to provide written statements, insisting instead on in-person testimony.
The directive requires Bill Clinton to appear for his deposition at 10 a.m. on December 17, with Hillary Clinton scheduled for the following day, December 18, at the same time. This action comes after an initial subpoena was issued in August. In response, the Clintons’ attorney, David Kendall, offered to provide “a written proffer of what little information” his clients possess. Chairman Comer flatly dismissed this proposal, underscoring the committee’s intent to pursue a more direct line of questioning.
In a letter to Kendall, Comer articulated the committee’s position, stating, “Given the admission that your clients possess some relevant information, your position amounts to a demand that the Committee forgo in-person testimony, potentially relevant to its legislative oversight.” The chairman further clarified that the private nature of the relationships was central to the inquiry. “It is precisely the fact President Clinton and Secretary Clinton each maintained relationships with Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell in their personal capacities as private citizens that is of interest to the Committee,” Comer wrote.
The committee’s investigation aims to scrutinize the network of influence surrounding Epstein, who, despite a 2008 guilty plea in Florida for soliciting a minor, continued to associate with powerful individuals in politics, business, and academia. Public records and previous reports have detailed several connections between the Clintons and the Epstein circle. Bill Clinton reportedly flew on Epstein’s private jet, later dubbed the “Lolita Express,” on more than a dozen occasions after his presidency. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime companion who is now serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking, was a guest at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding in 2010. Furthermore, Hillary Clinton’s political campaigns had received donations from Epstein prior to his 2008 conviction.
In a letter responding to the committee, attorney David Kendall expressed that “what we have learned over the years about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell is abhorrent.” He added, “The public’s demand for transparency from its government about their criminality is both understandable and warranted,” and affirmed that the Clintons “welcome legitimate oversight in this matter that is grounded in fact.” However, Kendall maintained that the former president and secretary of state “have little to contribute to that legitimate goal, all of which can be readily submitted on paper.”
Legal experts suggest the Clintons might explore asserting executive privilege to avoid testifying, though the applicability of such a privilege to matters concerning their personal lives, which occurred largely outside their official duties, remains uncertain.
The push for depositions from the Clintons is part of a broader investigative effort by the Oversight Committee. In August, subpoenas were also sent to several former high-ranking justice officials, including Attorneys General Merrick Garland, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales, as well as former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller. Most were permitted to submit written statements after indicating they had no relevant information. The subpoena for Mueller was withdrawn after his legal team disclosed his 2021 Parkinson’s diagnosis. Of that group, only former Attorney General Bill Barr, who was in office during Epstein’s 2019 arrest, appeared for questioning.
Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019 and was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell a month later, a death ruled a suicide. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton stated after the 2019 arrest that the former president had “not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade” and knew “nothing about the terrible crimes.” This past July, the Department of Justice concluded its investigation into Epstein’s death and network, stating that no third parties could be reasonably charged and that contrary to public speculation, Epstein did not maintain a “client list” or blackmail material.
Despite the DOJ’s findings, the Oversight Committee remains steadfast in its belief that the Clintons hold unique and pertinent information. The committee is prepared to use its full authority to compel their testimony as it seeks to understand the full scope of Epstein’s influence and whether it was facilitated by his proximity to powerful figures.
