Clintons to sit for depositions in House panel's Epstein inquiry later this month, Comer says
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will sit for depositions later this month in the House Oversight Committee's inquiry into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to House Oversight Chairman James Comer.
Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify on Feb. 26, Comer announced. Bill Clinton will sit for deposition the following day, Feb. 27.
"The Clintons completely caved and will appear for transcribed, filmed depositions this month. We look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors," Comer, a Republican, wrote in a statement.
Earlier Tuesday, Clinton spokesperson Nick Merrill, in a post on X, called for the Clintons to testify in a public hearing instead of appearing for a deposition, writing: "At the 11th hour, James Comer asked for a camera, that’s fine. He can have 1,000 cameras. The Clintons will do this publicly."
A letter from the Clintons' attorney Jon Skladany to Comer also said an open hearing "will best suit our concerns about fairness," citing the requirement that the interviews be videotaped — but ultimately left the decision about whether to hold a hearing or a deposition up to Comer.
“Please let us know the date and time for the hearing, or which pair of deposition dates the Chairman prefers,” Skladany wrote.
The Clintons' realization that a deposition would be recorded on video should not come as a surprise. The subpoenas issued by Congress explicitly called for depositions, and the House’s depositions rules, direct the committee chair to "ensure that the testimony is transcribed and may also require testimony to be electronically recorded, including by video recording."
A Republican aide said that these depositions will be conducted behind closed doors, not public hearings. The aide added that a location for the depositions is still "TBD" as the Clintons push for them to take place in New York City.
Comer had set a noon deadline Tuesday for the Clintons to agree to the GOP's specific terms for depositions, warning that if they did not then Republicans would reconvene to move contempt resolutions toward a full House vote.
"They negotiated in good faith. You did not," Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña posted on X on Monday. "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."
Last month, the House Oversight Committee voted to advance two bipartisan resolutions holding the Clintons in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with its subpoenas relating to Epstein.
For months, the Clintons had insisted that the subpoenas were without legal merit. Comer had pushed back, saying the Clintons are not above the law and must comply with a subpoena.
Besides defying the subpoenas to testify before the House committee, neither Bill Clinton nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing and both deny having any knowledge of Epstein's crimes. No Epstein survivor or associate has ever made a public allegation of wrongdoing or inappropriate behavior by the former president or his wife in connection with his prior relationship with Epstein.
This story has been updated with additional information from a lawyer for the Clintons.
