Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States, along with his wife Hillary, who previously served as Secretary of State, have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee. This decision was made in connection with an investigation initiated by Republicans regarding the ties of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, to prominent figures, reports the BBC.
In materials published by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the Epstein case, Clinton is mentioned multiple times, and there are also photographs showing him with the financier.
However, Epstein's victims have never accused either Clinton or his wife, while the couple claims they were unaware of his illegal activities.
Bill Clinton's spokesperson made a statement on social media: "The former president and former secretary of state will participate in the hearings."
Interestingly, the last time a former U.S. president testified before Congress was in 1983, when Gerald Ford did so.
Now, with Republicans holding the majority in the House of Representatives, a vote is planned regarding the potential criminal liability of the Clintons for their refusal to appear at the hearings scheduled by the Oversight Committee.
The U.S. Congress has the authority to detain witnesses who refuse to testify or provide documents. If necessary, it can refer the matter to the Department of Justice to pursue those guilty of contempt of its authority or request a court order compelling compliance with a subpoena.
Disorderly conduct in Congress is a criminal offense that carries a fine of up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to one year.
The head of the Oversight Committee, Republican James Comer, stated that the Clintons were subpoenaed to testify about five months ago but did not appear. After that, the committee voted to hold them criminally liable, a decision supported by some Democrats as well.
Clintons' Statements
The Clintons' lawyers argued that the subpoenas could not be enforced and explained that the couple had previously provided all "available information" about Jeffrey Epstein.
Caption for the photo: Bill Clinton does not hide his acquaintance with Jeffrey Epstein, but claims he was unaware of his crimes.
The Clintons also emphasize that their decision not to testify is related to the fact that these hearings have a clear political undertone. They believe it is merely an attempt to tarnish their names at the behest of President Trump.
On Monday, Bill Clinton's official representative, Ángel Ureña, stated that the couple intends to appear at the hearings. "They have been negotiating in good faith, unlike you," he noted to the Oversight Committee. "They have shared everything they knew, but you are not interested. They look forward to the opportunity to set a precedent that will apply to everyone."
Photographs showing Clinton with Epstein were taken over the years from the 1990s to the early 2000s, prior to the financier's arrest on charges of trafficking.
In one of the photos, the former president poses in a pool at Epstein's villa, and in another, apparently in a bathroom.
Clinton's representatives claim that he severed all ties with Epstein before his crimes became known.
However, they acknowledge that in 2002 and 2003, Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's private jet four times and also met with him in New York in 2002, when he also visited the millionaire's apartment.
Nevertheless, American media point out that Clinton flew on Epstein's plane more than 20 times, sometimes without Secret Service agents accompanying him, which is a violation of protocol for former presidents.
