Bill and Hillary Clinton to Testify Before Congress After Contempt Vote Loomed

Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee, marking a reversal as the House prepared a vote to hold them in contempt of Congress. This decision followed a months-long standoff over subpoenas in the committee's investigation related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, had approved contempt measures after the Clintons previously refused to appear for scheduled depositions. The committee's subpoenas were issued as part of its investigation. The Clintons had criticized the probe as a partisan exercise, stating in a letter that there was "no plausible explanation... other than partisan politics."

As the House Rules Committee met to advance the contempt resolutions to a full House vote, an announcement confirmed the Clintons would now appear before the panel. A spokesperson stated they "look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone." In response, the committee postponed its consideration of the contempt resolutions. Chairman Comer noted the need to clarify the terms of the agreement, stating, "I will clarify the terms they are agreeing to and then discuss next steps with my committee members."

This agreement averts a historic contempt vote that could have carried legal consequences. The investigation and the agreement for testimony continue to highlight the broader dynamics of congressional oversight and partisan investigations.