Clinton Agreement to Testify Undermines Subpoena Push, Democrats Say

In a significant development that could quell accusations regarding congressional investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee later this month.

The former First Lady will appear for a deposition on February 26, followed by the former President on February 27. Their decision comes after Republicans had moved forward with contempt resolutions when the Clintons failed to appear for scheduled depositions in January.

Democratic lawmakers view this development as effectively neutralizing Republican efforts to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress. If passed, such a resolution would have referred them to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution, potentially resulting in fines of up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to a year.

“If people receive a lawful subpoena, they should comply, and they should share testimony,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar, the third-ranking Democrat in the House. “There’s absolutely no way that contempt can move forward if they’re cooperating.”

The investigation centers on potential relationships between the Clintons and Epstein, the financier who died by suicide in 2019 while facing charges of sex trafficking minors. Republicans on the committee hope to uncover new information about these connections, though Democrats express skepticism about what the testimony might reveal.

“I think House Republicans want this to be performative and a public show,” Aguilar remarked, suggesting the hearings may be more political theater than substantive inquiry.

Notably, the initial contempt consideration revealed bipartisan frustration with the Clintons’ absence, with nine Democrats, including some progressive “Squad” members, voting to advance the resolution in committee. This unusual alignment demonstrates the seriousness with which Congress views compliance with subpoenas, regardless of partisan considerations.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), one of those Democrats, explained his vote: “I think no matter who you are, if Congress wants you to testify, you should testify.” However, he added that he likely would have opposed the measure had it reached the floor.

Democrats also see strategic value in the precedent being established. The use of contempt resolutions to compel testimony from former presidents and their families could provide Democrats with powerful tools should they regain the House majority in future years.

“It sets an interesting precedent on who is subject to come into Oversight, and we will see what the next year holds for Trump Inc. and the Trump family,” Aguilar noted, hinting at potential future Democratic investigations targeting former President Trump and his business empire.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), another senior House Democrat, called the Clintons’ decision “a positive development” while expressing doubt about what new information might emerge. “I don’t think they have anything to be worried about. I look forward to hearing what they have to say,” Thompson stated.

The Oversight Committee’s investigation has already made headlines with the release of Department of Justice files in December 2023 that included photos of Bill Clinton with Epstein. These images reignited public interest in the connections between the former president and the disgraced financier.

The upcoming depositions represent a significant moment in the ongoing congressional examination of the Epstein case, which has implicated numerous high-profile individuals over the years. While Republicans are pursuing answers about the Clintons’ relationships with Epstein, Democrats appear confident that the testimony will ultimately yield little new information while strengthening congressional subpoena powers for future investigations.