Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify in a closed-door session before a congressional committee on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Former President Bill Clinton will appear before the same Republican-led House Oversight Committee the following day to answer questions about his past associations with Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The Clintons had initially resisted subpoenas requiring them to testify in the probe, but the Democratic couple ultimately agreed to appear after House Republicans warned they would face contempt of Congress proceedings if they continued to refuse.
Democrats have strongly criticized the investigation, arguing it is being politically weaponized to target opponents of Republican President Donald Trump—himself a former associate of Epstein who has not been subpoenaed to testify—rather than serving as genuine congressional oversight.
Trump and Bill Clinton, both 79, appear frequently in the recently declassified government documents related to Epstein, though both have stated they severed ties with the financier before his 2008 conviction in Florida as a sex offender. Being named in the files does not constitute evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
The Clintons had pushed for their depositions to be conducted publicly, but the committee opted for private sessions. Bill Clinton denounced the closed-door format as “pure politics” and likened it to a “kangaroo court.”
“If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about,” the former Democratic president said on X.
Hillary Clinton, now 78 and the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee who lost to Trump, told the BBC last week that she and her husband “have nothing to hide.”
She acknowledged meeting Maxwell on a few occasions but insisted she never had any meaningful interactions with Epstein himself.
The former secretary of state suggested Republicans were attempting to divert attention from Trump by summoning her and her husband.
“Look at this shiny object. We’re going to have the Clintons, even Hillary Clinton, who never met the guy,” she said.
The depositions are being conducted in Chappaqua, New York, where the Clintons maintain their residence.
Clemency
Bill Clinton has previously acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private plane several times in the early 2000s in connection with Clinton Foundation humanitarian work, but he has consistently denied ever visiting Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
Ghislaine Maxwell, now 64, remains the only individual convicted in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
Maxwell appeared via video link before the House Oversight Committee earlier this month but refused to answer any questions, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Her attorney, David Markus, indicated that Maxwell would be willing to speak publicly if granted clemency by President Trump.
Markus also stated that both Trump and Bill Clinton are “innocent of any wrongdoing.”
“Ms Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation,” he said.
Epstein cultivated an extensive network of powerful individuals, including business executives, politicians, celebrities, and academics. The gradual release of Epstein-related files has triggered significant repercussions worldwide, including arrests in Britain of former Prince Andrew and ex-ambassador Peter Mandelson.
Several prominent Americans have seen their reputations damaged by past associations with Epstein and have resigned from positions, yet no one beyond Maxwell has faced criminal charges in connection with his activities.
