Washington — Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have finalized an agreement with the House Oversight Committee to testify in connection with the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, effectively averting a looming contempt of Congress vote. This marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been compelled to provide testimony before Congress.

Under the agreement, Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify on February 26, 2026, and Bill Clinton will follow with testimony on February 27. The proceedings are to be conducted behind closed doors, but will be transcribed and video-recorded, with records to be released subsequently, subject to the committee’s discretion. Committee Chair Rep. James Comer emphasized that the arrangement delivers both transparency and accountability for survivors and the public alike. [Washington Post: Clintons finalize deal to appear for House Epstein investigation depositions]; [AP via WSAW: Clintons finalize agreement to testify in House Epstein probe, bowing to threat of contempt vote]

For months, both Clintons resisted the subpoenas issued by the Oversight Committee, contesting their legitimacy and characterizing the effort as politically motivated. They initially offered limited cooperation—such as sworn declarations—but resisted live testimony, prompting the committee to advance criminal contempt charges, with support from several Democrats. Under the threat of real legal consequences, including fines and possible imprisonment, they opted to negotiate. [AP via WBRZ: Bill and Hillary Clinton agree to testify before House Oversight]; [Washington Post: Clintons finalize deal to appear for House Epstein investigation depositions]

The agreement arose amid deep mistrust between Justice Committee Republicans and the Clintons, who have publicly criticized Comer’s handling of the investigation. They argue the committee is focused unduly on them, while parallel scrutiny of the Trump administration’s disclosures of Epstein-related files is lacking. [AP via WSAW: Clintons finalize agreement to testify in House Epstein probe]

Why this matters
This agreement carries historic weight. Never before has a former U.S. president been compelled to testify under oath before Congress. While neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has faced criminal allegations in connection with Epstein, the testimonies will shed critical light on how a convicted sex offender cultivated ties to prominent political figures. The closed-door nature of the proceedings balances privacy concerns with public demands for transparency—but future public hearings remain possible, depending on developments.

As February unfolds, the Longview, Kelso, and Cowlitz County communities should follow this story for its broader implications on political accountability, congressional oversight precedent, and the intersection of power and misconduct. Other facets of the Epstein investigation—such as DOJ document releases under the Epstein Files Transparency Act—continue to evolve in parallel.

Sources

• Washington Post: “Clintons finalize deal to appear for House Epstein investigation depositions”
• Associated Press via WSAW: “Clintons finalize agreement to testify in House Epstein probe, bowing to threat of contempt vote”