Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee in its investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision marks a major turnaround after months of refusing the committee’s subpoenas and publicly questioning the legitimacy of the inquiry.
The Clintons’ agreement came just days before the House was set to vote on whether to hold them in criminal contempt of Congress—a rare step that could have sent the matter to the Justice Department. Their lawyers notified Committee Chairman James Comer on Monday evening, confirming that both would appear for depositions on dates to be mutually arranged.
This move ends a tense standoff that had escalated in recent weeks. Although the Clintons argued for months that the subpoenas were politically motivated and legally flawed, bipartisan support for the contempt recommendation increased pressure on them to comply. Several Democrats joined Republicans in backing the measure, an unusual break within the committee.
If Bill Clinton appears before the panel, it will be the first time in more than 40 years that a former president has testified to Congress. The last was Gerald Ford in 1983. Hillary Clinton, who has said she never met Epstein, also agreed to testify despite arguing she has little relevant information.
The Clintons had initially sought limits on the interviews, including a four-hour cap for Bill Clinton and the option for Hillary Clinton to submit a sworn statement instead of appearing in person. Comer rejected those terms, saying the former president’s testimony must be open-ended and unrestricted.
By Monday night, the Clintons accepted all of Comer’s conditions. Aside from holding the interviews in New York—which both sides agreed to—Republicans will have full discretion over the length and scope of questioning.
The Oversight Committee’s investigation aims to examine Epstein’s network, his connections with powerful individuals, and possible failures by government agencies. Comer has pushed to expand the probe’s focus toward prominent Democrats, including the Clintons, arguing that transparency requires a broad approach.
Bill Clinton acknowledged knowing Epstein in the early 2000s and taking several international flights on his private jet, all of which appear on public flight logs. He has denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, and no survivor has accused him of wrongdoing. Clinton says he cut ties with Epstein about two decades ago.
Hillary Clinton has long insisted she had no personal or professional relationship with Epstein.
Some Democrats expressed frustration that Hillary Clinton was included in the subpoenas despite no evidence linking her to Epstein. Others, concerned about political optics, sided with Republicans in allowing the contempt proceedings to move forward.
The Clintons, for their part, have accused Comer of running a partisan investigation and warned in earlier letters that his approach risked turning Congress into a political weapon.
Their decision to testify signals a strategic shift—a recognition that refusing could carry greater political and legal consequences.
Dates for the depositions have not yet been announced. With the contempt vote likely to be canceled, the committee will now prepare for two of the most high-profile interviews in recent congressional history.
The Clintons say they intend to answer the committee’s questions fully. Comer insists their testimony will be treated like any other witness. And with both sides digging in, the stage is set for a closely watched moment in Washington’s ongoing effort to untangle the legacy of Jeffrey Epstein’s influence.
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