Former 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. The decision came after committee leaders moved toward holding both individuals in criminal contempt of Congress for failing to comply with earlier requests.
The Oversight Committee announced the development in a public statement, saying the agreement followed ongoing disputes over testimony terms. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton confirmed that both Clintons will appear before the panel, while also criticizing committee leadership over how negotiations were handled.
Lawmakers are seeking to determine what the Clintons may have known about Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as to review Hillary Clinton’s role in U.S. anti-trafficking efforts during her tenure as secretary of state. The investigation is part of a broader congressional review of Epstein’s connections to prominent public figures.
According to individuals familiar with the discussions, attorneys for the Clintons sent a written response indicating acceptance of the committee’s conditions for testimony and requesting confirmation that contempt proceedings would be halted. Democratic members of the committee said the response constituted full compliance with the chairman’s demands.
Committee Chairman James Comer said additional clarification is still needed, including scheduling details, before determining next steps. While House leaders have temporarily paused contempt proceedings, it remains unclear whether they could resume if disagreements over timing or terms persist. The investigation continues amid criticism from Democrats over the pace of document production by the Justice Department.