Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States, and his wife Hillary, who previously served as Secretary of State, have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee. This committee, operating at the initiative of Republicans, is investigating the connections of convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein with influential figures, as reported by the BBC.
In extensive documentation provided by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the Epstein case, the names of the Clintons are mentioned multiple times, and there are also photographs featuring the former president and the financier.
However, Epstein's victims have never accused the Clintons, and the Clintons themselves are linked to the case only by their lack of awareness of Epstein's crimes.
A representative for Bill Clinton announced on social media: "The former president and former secretary of state intend to appear at the hearings."
The last time a former U.S. president testified before Congress was in 1983, during Gerald Ford's presidency.
The House of Representatives, where Republicans hold the majority, planned to vote on the criminal liability of the Clintons for their failure to appear at the hearings organized by the Oversight Committee.
Congress has the authority to detain individuals who refuse to appear for questioning or provide documents. It can also refer to the Department of Justice for punishment for contempt of its authority or seek a court order compelling compliance with a subpoena.
Contempt of Congress is a criminal offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to one year.
James Comer, the Republican chairman of the Oversight Committee, stated that the Clintons were summoned to testify about five months ago, but they did not show up. As a result, the committee voted to hold them in criminal contempt, which was also supported by some Democrats.
Clintons' Statements
The Clintons' attorneys argued that the subpoenas issued to them are not enforceable and emphasized that the couple has already provided all available information about Epstein.
Despite his connection with Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Clinton claims he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes.
The Clintons explained their refusal to testify by stating that they believe the hearings have a political agenda. They see it as an attempt to discredit them as political opponents at the behest of former President Trump.
On Monday, Bill Clinton's official representative, Ángel Ureña, confirmed that the couple intends to attend the hearings. He noted: "They have acted in good faith in negotiations, while you have not. They have told you everything they knew, but that is not of interest to you. They are waiting for a chance to set a precedent that concerns everyone."
Photographs showing Clinton with Epstein were taken from the 1990s to the early 2000s, before Epstein's arrest for sexual exploitation.
In one of the photos, the former president is seen in a pool at Epstein's villa, and in another, presumably in a bathroom.
Clinton's representatives emphasize that he ceased all contact with Epstein before his crimes became known.
Nevertheless, they acknowledge that Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's private jet four times in 2002 and 2003 and also met with him in New York in 2002, when he also visited the millionaire's apartment.
However, American media reports that Clinton flew on Epstein's plane more than 20 times, sometimes without the accompaniment of Secret Service agents assigned to him for protection as a former president.
