Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the Republican‑led House Oversight and Accountability Committee as part of its investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, aides and committee officials said, a development that may forestall a planned contempt of Congress vote.

A spokesman for Bill Clinton, Angel Urena, confirmed in a post on the social media platform X that "the former President and former Secretary of State will be there," adding that they "look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone."

The move appears aimed at heading off a scheduled House vote to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress – a rare step that could ultimately lead to criminal charges if referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Background on the dispute

The committee had accused the Clintons of having defied lawful subpoenas and seeking special treatment to avoid testimony. In a letter earlier this month, the Clintons' lawyers maintained that the subpoenas were "legally invalid" and said they had already provided all information in their possession related to the Epstein case.

On January 21, the committee voted along party lines to advance a motion to hold the couple in contempt and referred it to the full House for consideration.

Current status

While the Clintons have agreed to testify, committee leaders say they have not yet received confirmed dates or agreed terms for the depositions. Committee Chair Rep. James Comer said he will discuss next steps with members of the panel.

House Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed the news but noted that legal teams are still working through details of the arrangement.

Epstein files reveal European figures

As the Justice Department continues to release voluminous documents related to Epstein – including a tranche of about three million pages of court records, emails and attachments – prominent Europeans have emerged in the material, drawing political and public scrutiny.

Several high‑profile Europeans whose names or correspondence appear in the files, have noted that appearance in the documents does not equate to evidence of wrongdoing and many have denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

Context of Epstein inquiry 

The congressional probe centers on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose connections to numerous prominent figures in politics, business and academia have drawn scrutiny after the U.S. Justice Department's recent release of millions of pages of related documents. Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting federal sex‑trafficking charges; his death was ruled a suicide.

Bill Clinton has acknowledged traveling several times on Epstein's private jet in the early 2000s but has denied knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities.

(With input from agencies)