In the case of Jeffrey Epstein, days before a vote is supposed to take place to hold the former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and Democratic Presidential Nominee, in criminal contempt after a months-long standoff, refusing to appear in front of the House Oversight Committee, they agreed to testify in the congressional investigation of the late sex offender.
Holding The Clintons in Contempt
With the newest release of the Epstein files, officials are narrowing in on the Clintons. The pictures and emails show Bill was clearly acquainted with Epstein, who killed himself in prison after being convicted of his crimes in 2019. However, Bill denies being aware of any of the sexual crimes committed and that he cut off contact with Epstein over 20 years ago.
The Clintons have continuously denied any wrongdoing on their part and have resisted appearing before the committee, claiming they gave their sworn statements on what “limited information” they had regarding Epstein. The committee imposed a legal summons on the Clintons, which they dismissed as “nothing more than a ploy to attempt to embarrass political rivals, as President Trump has directed.”
With the support of Democrats last month, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee approved the measure to hold the Clintons in contempt. The date of the deposition has yet to be scheduled, or at least released to the media. It will be the first time a former U.S. president has testified in front of a congressional panel since Gerald Ford in 1983.
Expected Deposition Testimony
On Saturday, January 31, the Clintons’ attorneys offered for the couple to provide limited testimony that would center on a four-hour interview by Bill Clinton. The House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer voiced the committee’s apprehension that the former president would run down the clock by stonewalling the questions.
Bill Clinton’s deputy chief of staff Angel Ureña confirmed in a post on X Monday evening the two would appear before the panel. “They negotiated in good faith. You did not,” Ureña directed at the House Oversight Committee. “They told you under oath what they know, but you don’t care. But the former President and former Secretary of State will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.”
After the defiant post, lawmakers’ consideration of the contempt resolutions against the Clintons was postponed. House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx said the Oversight Committee has “to clarify with the Clintons what they are actually agreeing to,” so they need more time to do so.
“The Clintons’ counsel has said they agree to terms, but those terms lack clarity yet again, and they have provided no dates for their depositions. The only reason they have said they agree to terms is because the House has moved forward with contempt,” Oversight Committee Chairman Cromer said in a statement on Monday. “I will clarify the terms they are agreeing to and then discuss next steps with my committee members.”
Newly Released Epstein Files
The Clintons have not been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein survivors, and they continue to deny having any knowledge of his sex offending. Hillary Clinton confirmed she never met or spoke to Epstein. However, her husband took four international flights on Epstein’s private jet in 2002 and 2003, according to the files.
In July 2019, Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges, and shortly after, Clinton’s spokesperson clarified the trips that were taken on the plane were “stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation.” But Bill Clinton also appears in photos at Epstein’s estate that were recently released in accordance with the government order, swimming in the pool, and relaxing in a hot tub.
Clinton’s spokesman advised the public after those photos were released that they were decades old, and before Epstein was discovered to be a disgusting sexual predator, and Bill had already stopped associating with him.
