Hillary Clinton to Testify Before US House Panel Probing Epstein Case
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear on Thursday before a committee of the US House of Representatives investigating the crimes of late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Her appearance comes after she and her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, agreed to provide testimony following earlier resistance. The decision helped avert possible contempt-of-Congress action against them.
Hillary Clinton has consistently said she never met or spoke with Epstein. Bill Clinton, who previously had contact with Epstein, has denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. He has stated that he ended all ties with Epstein roughly 20 years ago and later expressed regret over the association.
Bill Clinton is expected to testify separately on Friday.
Speaking recently, Hillary Clinton described the investigation as politically driven and aimed at shifting focus from other public figures’ connections to Epstein. She said both she and her husband have nothing to hide and support the full public release of all related records.
She acknowledged meeting Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell on a few occasions. Maxwell was present at the wedding of the Clintons’ daughter, Chelsea, in 2010.
The couple’s agreement to testify marked a change from their earlier stance, as lawmakers were preparing to move forward with contempt proceedings. Some members from both major political parties supported the effort.
The Clintons have accused the committee’s Republican chairman, James Comer, of conducting the inquiry for partisan reasons. They argued that they had already submitted sworn written statements covering all the limited information they possessed.
Comer, however, said requesting testimony from both Clintons was a bipartisan decision meant to show that no individual is above the law.
Recently released documents from the US Department of Justice include references to Bill Clinton among many high-profile figures connected to Epstein. Officials have stressed that appearing in the records does not suggest wrongdoing.
Other names mentioned in the documents include Donald Trump, who also previously acknowledged knowing Epstein.
The depositions will take place in Chappaqua, close to the Clintons’ residence. While such hearings are typically private, the couple pushed for transparency to prevent selective leaks.
Lawmakers from both parties are expected to brief reporters after Hillary Clinton’s testimony, which is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Bill Clinton’s appearance will be historically notable, marking the first time a former US president has testified before a congressional panel since Gerald Ford did so in 1983.
