United States congressional investigators have summoned former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to testify before the House of Representatives as part of an ongoing inquiry into the federal government’s past handling of investigations involving the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
The development follows months of tension between lawmakers and the Clintons after House committees issued subpoenas seeking in-person testimony on Epstein’s political and social network, which investigators say is central to understanding alleged institutional failures that allowed his abuse to persist for years despite earlier law-enforcement scrutiny.
Those summoned are Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, and Hillary Clinton, a former US senator and presidential candidate. Both maintained indirect associations with Epstein during the early 2000s, when the financier moved within influential political, business, and philanthropic circles.
According to a statement issued by Clinton spokesman Angel Urena, “the former President and former Secretary of State will comply with the request and appear before lawmakers, setting a standard that no individual is above accountability in matters of public concern.” The decision is viewed as an effort to clarify the extent of high-level contacts linked to the disgraced financier and to avert potential contempt proceedings against the couple.
Following the Clintons’ agreement to testify, the House Rules Committee suspended consideration of resolutions that would have cited them for contempt of Congress, while maintaining that the investigation remains active and focused on assessing gaps in oversight and enforcement related to Epstein’s prior cases.
Lawmakers overseeing the probe reiterated that the inquiry falls squarely within Congress’s constitutional oversight responsibilities, stressing that it seeks to evaluate how federal authorities handled Epstein’s activities and whether political influence hindered earlier accountability.
The committee further cautioned current and former public officials that cooperation with lawful subpoenas is essential to preserving institutional integrity, noting that congressional investigations are governed by established procedures designed to uphold transparency and the rule of law.
Congressional leaders said the inquiry may continue to expand as additional records are reviewed, including recently released Justice Department files, and emphasised that failure to cooperate in later stages could still result in enforcement actions as lawmakers push to establish a full and credible account of the Epstein affair.
