Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are requesting that their congressional depositions on ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein be conducted publicly, aiming to prevent the hearings from becoming a political tool.
The Clintons had been ordered to give closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Epstein’s connections to influential figures and how information about his crimes was managed. Democrats argue the inquiry is being used by Republicans to target opponents of President Donald Trump, a longtime associate of Epstein who has not been asked to testify.
Bill Clinton agreed to comply with the subpoena but criticized the closed-door format. In a post on X, he described it as akin to a “kangaroo court” and urged the committee to hold a public hearing. “Let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing,” he wrote.
Hillary Clinton echoed her husband’s call, noting that they had already provided the committee with the information they possess. “If you want this fight … let’s have it in public,” she said.
The request comes after the Justice Department last week released over three million documents, photos, and videos related to its investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide while in federal custody in 2019. Bill Clinton appears regularly in the files, though no evidence has emerged linking him to any criminal activity. The former president has acknowledged traveling on Epstein’s private plane in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work but denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island.
Hillary Clinton also denied any meaningful interactions with Epstein, stating she never flew on his plane or visited his island. Both have sought to draw a distinction between their limited contact and the criminal conduct of Epstein.
House Republicans had previously threatened a contempt vote if the couple failed to testify. The Clintons agreed to appear, but their insistence on a public deposition reflects growing concern that the inquiry is being politicized ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
The Oversight Committee has faced scrutiny from Democrats for how it is handling the investigation, with critics arguing that it disproportionately targets individuals connected to political rivals while avoiding scrutiny of others, including President Trump.
The request by the Clintons underscores the tension between congressional oversight and political maneuvering in high-profile cases. A public hearing, they argue, would allow for transparency and prevent partisan exploitation of sensitive material related to Epstein’s crimes.
The House Oversight Committee has not yet confirmed whether it will accommodate the Clintons’ request for a public deposition. Meanwhile, the released Justice Department documents continue to draw attention, with legal and political analysts monitoring any potential implications for figures connected to Epstein.
