Micah Jonah
February 3, 2026
Former United States President, Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have agreed to testify before a US House panel investigating how authorities handled earlier probes into disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision follows weeks of tension between the lawmakers and the Clintons, who had initially declined to honour subpoenas issued by the House Rules Committee. Their agreement to testify has halted a planned vote that could have held the couple in contempt of Congress.
A spokesman for Bill Clinton confirmed the development, stating that both former officials were prepared to appear before the panel and explain their past interactions, if any, with Epstein. According to the spokesman, the Clintons see their appearance as part of a broader principle that no individual should be exempted from legislative scrutiny.
The House panel is examining the handling of Epstein’s case by law enforcement and regulatory authorities, particularly the circumstances surrounding earlier investigations into his activities before his death in custody in 2019.
Epstein maintained relationships with influential figures across politics, business and entertainment, a factor that has continued to fuel public and political interest in the case.
Republican lawmakers argue that Bill Clinton’s past association with Epstein, including flights on his private jet in the early 2000s, warrants in person questioning under oath. Democrats, however, have accused the committee of using the investigation as a political tool, noting that former President Donald Trump, who was also publicly linked to Epstein in the past, has not been summoned to testify.
Neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s activities. In earlier responses to the subpoenas, the couple submitted sworn written statements. Bill Clinton acknowledged travelling on Epstein’s plane for humanitarian related engagements but denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island. Hillary Clinton stated that she had no meaningful interaction with Epstein and never travelled with him.
Following the Clintons’ agreement to testify, the House Rules Committee announced that it would suspend further action on the contempt proceedings for now. The investigation continues as lawmakers seek to establish accountability and transparency around one of the most controversial criminal cases in recent US history.
