Photo: Alamy
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to give a deposition Thursday in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, followed by former President Bill Clinton on Friday.
The depositions, set to take place in New York, follow weeks of negotiations between the Clintons’ legal team and House Republicans. Oversight Committee Chair James Comer pushed for in-person, recorded testimony rather than written responses or sworn declarations.
The Clintons have not been accused of wrongdoing. The depositions will be held in Chappaqua, New York, where the Clintons live, in closed session.
“Their testimony may also inform how Congress can strengthen laws to better combat human trafficking. Our goal for this investigation is straightforward: We seek to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and survivors,” Comer told Fox News on Wednesday.
“The Clintons’ testimony is critical to understanding Epstein and [Ghislaine Maxwell’s] sex trafficking network and the ways they sought to curry favor and influence to shield themselves from scrutiny,” Comer also noted.
The proceedings are notable for two reasons. Bill Clinton is expected to become the first former president compelled to testify under subpoena in a congressional inquiry of this kind. In addition, lawmakers from both parties have indicated they plan to question the couple.
“The major thing is that we’re looking for truth, for the survivors, and justice and accountability, and that’s something that cuts across party lines,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., told The Hill. “At least on the Democratic side, we have said that anybody who was involved in criminal activity should pay the price for it.”
Comer said Tuesday that he intends to release video and transcripts of the depositions after the Clintons review and approve them.
The committee’s investigation is examining Epstein’s activities and any connections to prominent public figures, as well as broader questions about how authorities handled past allegations against him.