Bill and Hillary Clinton Ordered to Testify in Epstein Probe

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has directed former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to appear for in-person depositions next month as part of the ongoing congressional probe into Jeffrey Epstein and his extensive political connections.

The subpoenas come amid mounting pressure for transparency about the Clintons’ decades-long ties to the deceased sex offender and his jailed accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Clintons Pushed to Testify In-Person

The Oversight Committee originally issued subpoenas on August 5, but Clinton attorney David Kendall sought to sidestep direct questioning, offering only a “written proffer of what little information” they claim to have.

Comer rejected that offer.

“Given the admission that your clients possess some relevant information, your position amounts to a demand that the Committee forgo in-person testimony potentially relevant to its legislative oversight,” Comer wrote in a follow-up letter.

He emphasized that the Clintons’ dealings with Epstein and Maxwell as private citizens—rather than in their official capacities—were precisely what made their testimonies relevant. “It is exactly because President Clinton and Secretary Clinton maintained personal relationships with Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell that they are of interest,” Comer said.

Deposition Dates Set for December

• Bill Clinton has been ordered to appear at 10 a.m. on December 17

• Hillary Clinton is scheduled for 10 a.m. on December 18

Some legal observers speculate that the Clintons may attempt to invoke executive privilege. However, because the committee is focused on their personal relationships with Epstein, not their official duties, that privilege may not apply.

Deepening Scrutiny of Ties to Epstein

• Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s “Lolita Express” more than a dozen times after leaving the White House

• Ghislaine Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding in 2010

• Hillary Clinton’s Senate campaign received donations from Epstein in the early 2000s

Despite Epstein’s conviction in 2008 for soliciting a minor, the Clintons maintained associations with the financier for years afterward.

Following Epstein’s 2019 arrest, Clinton’s office insisted he had “not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade” and “knows nothing about the terrible crimes.”

Others Allowed to Submit Written Statements

Other high-profile figures subpoenaed in August—such as former Attorneys General Merrick Garland, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales—were permitted to respond in writing, citing a lack of relevant information.

Only former Attorney General Bill Barr has complied with an in-person interview, appearing before the committee earlier this year to answer questions about Epstein’s death under federal custody in 2019.

A subpoena for former FBI Director Robert Mueller was withdrawn after his legal team disclosed a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2021.

Clintons’ Team Responds

Attorney David Kendall said the Clintons “welcome legitimate oversight” but maintained they “have little to contribute” and should not be compelled to testify. Comer pushed back, arguing that the gravity of Epstein’s crimes demands in-person accountability.

The committee is expected to move forward with both depositions unless the Clintons seek and obtain a court order blocking their appearances.