Such a move could have opened the door to possible criminal referrals.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have agreed to testify before Congress as part of an investigation into their links with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a congressional staffer confirms.
The development comes amid pressure from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which had been moving toward a vote to hold the two high-profile Democrats in contempt of Congress.
Such a move could have opened the door to possible criminal referrals.
The House Oversight Committee has been probing Epstein’s network of associations following the U.S. Justice Department’s recent release of millions of internal documents connected to the disgraced financier.
The files detail Epstein’s extensive ties to influential figures across politics, business, finance, and academia, both before and after his 2008 guilty plea on prostitution-related charges.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said that the agreement by the Clintons to testify could alter the committee’s next steps, according to Reuters.
Asked whether the House would pause contempt proceedings against the former president and former secretary of state, Reuters quoted Johnson as saying, “They're working on that right now. The lawyers are looking into the details.”
Johnson also welcomed the decision earlier, describing it as a positive step toward cooperation with congressional oversight.
Last week, the House Oversight Committee recommended that Bill and Hillary Clinton be cited for contempt, accusing them of refusing to testify in person about their interactions with Epstein.
While the Clintons had indicated a willingness to cooperate with the investigation, they had initially declined to appear physically before the committee.
They argued that the inquiry was politically motivated and designed to shield Republican President Donald Trump.
Responding to the criticism, the Clintons’ deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, defended their position in a social media post.
“They told you under oath what they know, but you don't care. But the former President and former Secretary of State will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone,” Urena said.
Bill Clinton’s past association with Epstein has drawn renewed scrutiny during the probe.
The former president acknowledged that he flew on Epstein’s private jet multiple times in the early 2000s after leaving the White House.
He has since said he regrets the relationship and has maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities at the time.
Despite the agreement to testify, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said logistical details remain unresolved.
According to Comer, the Clintons have not yet provided dates for their depositions.
“The Clintons' counsel has said they agree to terms, but those terms lack clarity yet again, and they have provided no dates for their depositions,” Comer said.
“I will clarify the terms they are agreeing to and then discuss next steps with my committee members.”
The committee is expected to determine in the coming days whether to proceed with contempt votes or move forward with scheduling the Clintons’ testimony.