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By Jesus Mesa
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Former President Bill Clinton on Wednesday called on House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer to hold a public hearing as part of the committee’s investigation tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a series of posts on X, Clinton said he has already asked for the full release of the Epstein files and submitted a sworn statement detailing what he knows. He said he also agreed this week to appear in person before the committee but objected to Republicans’ plan to conduct the session behind closed doors.
Clinton said Comer had expressed interest in allowing cameras, but only during private testimony, a format Clinton argued does not serve the public interest.
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“Who benefits from this arrangement?” Clinton wrote, adding that it does not help Epstein’s victims or the public. He said the approach serves partisan interests rather than fact-finding.
Clinton said he would not participate in a closed-door hearing and instead called for a public session so Americans can see the testimony themselves.
“If they want answers, let’s stop the games and do this the right way: in a public hearing,” he wrote.
Why It Matters
For nearly two decades, police, FBI agents, and prosecutors investigated allegations that Epstein, a convicted sex offender, sexually abused underage girls. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Now, the Justice Department has released much of what it uncovered to the public.
As additional documents are made public, scrutiny of a broad range of political and business figures has intensified, prompting bipartisan calls for greater transparency into the investigations.
What To Know
The House Oversight Committee has defended its use of closed-door depositions as a routine investigative tool. Democrats, however, have criticized the approach, accusing Republicans of selectively releasing information for political gain.
The Clintons initially argued that subpoenas for their testimony were invalid and offered to submit sworn declarations stating they had limited knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. As Chairman James Comer moved toward contempt of Congress charges, they began seeking a way to avoid that outcome.
Both Clintons have sharply criticized Comer’s handling of the Epstein investigation, arguing that his focus has been on compelling their testimony rather than scrutinizing how the Trump administration managed the release of Epstein-related files.
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But as Comer advanced the contempt resolutions out of committee last month, several Democrats broke ranks to support him. Younger, more progressive members, with fewer political ties to the Clintons, signaled a greater willingness to back the measures in the name of transparency.
Nine Democrats on the 21-member Oversight Committee voted to advance charges against Bill Clinton, while three joined Republicans in supporting charges against Hillary Clinton. Ahead of this week’s vote, House Democratic leaders also made clear they would not spend significant political capital opposing the resolutions.
That left the Clintons with little choice but to agree to testify or face one of the most serious penalties Congress can impose.
Bill Clinton has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has said he cut ties with him years before Epstein’s arrest. Like several other prominent figures, including President Donald Trump, Clinton had a documented relationship with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Neither Trump nor Clinton has been credibly accused of criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
The Clintons have said they were unaware that Epstein was sexually abusing underage girls before prosecutors brought charges against him.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said to reporters on Wednesday: "I think it's a shame, to be honest. I always liked him. Her, she's a very capable woman. She was better at debating than some of the other people, I will tell you that. She was smarter. Smart woman."
Representative James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement: “We look forward to now questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors."
Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State and first lady, wrote on X on Thursday: "For six months, we engaged Republicans on the Oversight Committee in good faith. We told them what we know, under oath. They ignored all of it. They moved the goalposts and turned accountability into an exercise in distraction."
The Clintons said in a joint statement released on January 13: "We are prepared to make our case to your 45 committee members, and if need be, more. Importantly, we also will defend ourselves in the public arena and ensure this country knows exactly what you are doing and why you are doing so, instead of helping the American people who need this Congress’s work and protection."
What Happens Next
Congress has historically shown deference to former presidents. The Clintons' concession, however, prompted some Democrats to suggest that it set a precedent for former presidents to comply with congressional subpoenas.
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