A congressional committee has formally compelled former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to provide sworn testimony as part of an ongoing inquiry into the activities of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee has scheduled the depositions for mid-December, rejecting a prior request from the Clintons’ legal counsel to submit written statements instead. The committee’s chairman has argued that in-person testimony is necessary for its legislative oversight duties, emphasizing interest in the nature of the Clintons’ personal relationships with Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
In correspondence, the Clintons’ attorney stated that his clients condemn the actions of Epstein and Maxwell and support legitimate oversight but maintain they possess minimal relevant information, which could be provided in writing. The committee chairman countered that the very fact these relationships existed in a private capacity is central to the investigation.
The order for testimony follows subpoenas issued this past summer. Notably, the committee permitted other former officials who were similarly subpoenaed to avoid depositions after they attested to having no pertinent information. The Clintons are now set to be questioned directly about their past associations as the probe continues.
