WASHINGTON — Former President Invoice Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are in a standoff with Home Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., over testimony the panel is looking for in its investigation into the late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The dispute is over the format of the Clintons’ testimony to lawmakers. The Clintons’ authorized crew wrote a letter to Comer on Tuesday providing their public testimony earlier than the committee at two hearings later this month, in line with parts of the letter shared with NBC Information.
The previous secretary of state provided to testify earlier than the panel on Feb. 26 and the previous president provided to testify on Feb. 27, in line with the letter. A Clinton spokesman and Home Oversight Committee rating member Robert Garcia, D-Calif., confirmed the dates. Whereas the letter stated they might be obtainable for depositions on these dates, it made clear that they would favor to testify in an open listening to.
“Although you’ve got notably by no means requested the Clintons to look in an open listening to, we now imagine that can greatest go well with our issues about equity,” the letter stated. “Their solutions, and your questions, might be seen by all to be judged accordingly.”
After the Clintons informed Comer they might testify publicly, nonetheless, the Republican chair introduced in an announcement Tuesday that the 2 had agreed to look for transcribed, filmed depositions later this month. Depositions are carried out behind closed doorways.
“We stay up for questioning the Clintons as a part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to ship transparency and accountability for the American individuals and for survivors,” Comer stated Tuesday.
Instantly after the announcement, Hillary Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill posted on X, “On the eleventh hour, James Comer requested for a digicam, that’s positive. He can have 1,000 cameras. The Clintons will do that publicly.” Angel Ureña, the previous president’s spokesman, then reposted Merrill’s assertion with a collection of down arrows pointing to it.
Comer informed reporters outdoors the Capitol Tuesday afternoon that the Clintons had agreed to “the foundations of a typical deposition, so they are not going to be handled any otherwise than anybody else.” He stated that “if there’s one thing significant” that arises through the deposition — which he once more famous could be filmed — then Republicans may host the Clintons for a public listening to.
The previous first couple has been attempting to succeed in an settlement with the Oversight Committee to keep away from a Republican-led Home vote to carry them each in contempt of Congress.
The committee had given the Clintons till midday ET on Tuesday to adjust to the panel’s subpoena to look for testimony as a part of the Epstein probe. Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise, R-La., warned Tuesday morning that the Home would proceed with a ground vote to carry the Clintons in contempt of Congress in the event that they did not cooperate. The Oversight panel had voted final month to suggest holding them in contempt.
It’s extremely uncommon for both sitting or former presidents to testify earlier than Congress. Gerald R. Ford was the final former president to take action in 1983 when he testified earlier than a Senate subcommittee about planning for the bicentennial of the Structure.
On Monday night, Ureña responded on X to a letter from Comer, saying that the couple had agreed to testify within the Home Epstein investigation.
“They negotiated in good religion. You didn’t,” he wrote. “They informed you underneath oath what they know, however you don’t care. However the former President and former Secretary of State will likely be there. They stay up for setting a precedent that applies to everybody.”
Invoice Clinton has stated that he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes. He has denied any wrongdoing and there was no proof that he was concerned in Epstein’s crimes. Clinton has stated that he lower ties with Epstein earlier than Epstein was charged in 2006 with having intercourse with a minor. Undated photographs of the previous president have appeared in a few of the Epstein recordsdata launched by the Justice Division.
In the meantime, Merrill stated in December, “Since this began, we’ve been asking what the hell Hillary Clinton has to do with this, and he hasn’t been in a position to give you a solution.”
Owen Hayes and Lizzie Jensen contributed.
