House Oversight chair says contempt threat remains as talks over depositions continue
February 3, 2026: Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed in principle to testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Their lawyers informed committee staff late Monday that both Clintons would comply with the subpoenas and appear for depositions on mutually agreeable dates. However, Republican committee chair James Comer said no final agreement had been formalised and declined to immediately halt ongoing criminal contempt proceedings against the two, saying, “We don’t have anything in writing.”
The negotiations unfolded as Republican leaders advanced a contempt resolution through the House Rules Committee, the final step before a full House vote. If approved and pursued by the Department of Justice, the charges could lead to fines or even jail time, marking a potentially unprecedented move against a former US president. Comer insisted that both Clintons must appear for sworn depositions, rejecting earlier proposals that would have allowed Bill Clinton to give a transcribed interview and Hillary Clinton to submit a sworn declaration. “The Clintons do not get to dictate the terms of lawful subpoenas,” he said.
The Oversight Committee issued the subpoenas in August while examining Epstein’s network and alleged institutional failures surrounding his crimes. While Bill Clinton’s past associations with Epstein have drawn renewed scrutiny, he has not been accused of wrongdoing. The Clintons’ representatives accused Comer of politicising the probe, arguing that their clients negotiated in good faith. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, and the investigation continues to fuel sharp political debate in Washington.