Former US President Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will testify in a congressional investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an aide said on Monday.
The decision could intercept a planned vote in the Republican-led House of Representatives to hold the two prominent Democrats in contempt, which could lead to criminal charges.
The recent release by the U.S. Department of Justice of millions of internal documents related to Epstein has revealed the late financier and sex offender’s ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business — both before and after he pleaded guilty to prostitution charges in 2008.
Asked whether the House of Representatives would hold up its contempt votes against the Clintons, House Speaker Mike Johnson told Reuters: “They are working on that right now. The lawyers are looking into the details.”
Johnson previously welcomed the news that the former president and former foreign secretary were willing to testify.
Contempt of voting in Congress
The House Oversight Committee (HOC) last week recommended that the Clintons be held in contempt for refusing to testify about their relationship with Epstein.
The Clintons had offered to work with the panel but declined to appear in person, saying the investigation was a partisan exercise aimed at protecting Republican President Donald Trump.
“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,” the Clintons’ deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, said on social media.
Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane several times in the early 2000s after leaving office. He has expressed regret about the relationship and said he knew nothing about Epstein’s criminal activities.
Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer, chairman of the HOC, said Monday that the Clintons have not given a date for their statements and that he will discuss next steps with panelists.
“The Clintons’ counsel has said they agree to the terms, but again those terms are not clear and they have not provided dates for their statements,” Comer said.
“I will clarify the terms they agree to and then discuss next steps with my committee members.”
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