February 3, 2026, reports a significant development in the ongoing congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein: Former President **Bill Clinton** and former Secretary of State **Hillary Clinton** have agreed to meet key Republican demands from the House Oversight Committee to testify under oath about their connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This agreement came in a closed-door deposition format, averting—at least temporarily—a planned vote to hold them in contempt of Congress.
Background on the Investigation and Subpoenas
The House Oversight Committee, led by Republican Chairman **James Comer** (R-Ky.), has been probing aspects of Jeffrey Epstein's case for months. This includes examining potential mismanagement in federal investigations, Epstein's high-profile associations, and related documents released in prior batches (some under the Trump administration). Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had documented ties to numerous powerful figures, including multiple flights on his private plane with Bill Clinton in the early 2000s (as noted in flight logs from earlier Epstein-related disclosures). Hillary Clinton has consistently stated she never met Epstein personally.
The committee subpoenaed both Clintons (along with other figures like former FBI directors and attorneys general) back in 2025 to provide testimony. Initial deposition dates were set for late 2025 but repeatedly delayed or rescheduled due to negotiations, including accommodations requested by the Clintons (such as one tied to a funeral). When they ultimately failed to appear for scheduled sessions in January 2026, the committee escalated by advancing contempt resolutions. In a rare bipartisan move, the panel voted in late January 2026 to recommend holding both in contempt of Congress—a step that could lead to criminal referral to the Justice Department, with potential penalties including up to one year in prison and fines.
The Clintons' legal team had argued the subpoenas were "invalid and legally unenforceable," leading to a prolonged standoff. Republicans framed the refusal as defiance, while some Democrats on the committee (and even a few who voted for the contempt measure) acknowledged there was "plenty of evidence" suggesting Bill Clinton might have relevant information based on his documented travels and associations with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
The Breakthrough Agreement
The Clintons signaled late on February 2, 2026 (Monday evening), that they would comply, negotiating in "good faith" to avoid the contempt vote scheduled for that week. Their spokesperson, **Angel Ureña**, emphasized: "The Clintons negotiated in good faith, and will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone." This appeared to reference allowing certain accommodations, like written statements for other witnesses in similar probes.
Key terms the Clintons accepted included:
- Transcribed and filmed depositions under oath.
- No strict time limit (potentially longer than an initial four-hour proposal).
- Location in Washington, D.C.
- Flexibility on exact dates in February 2026.
Chairman Comer, however, expressed skepticism initially, telling Axios on Tuesday morning (February 3) that the offered terms still "lacked clarity" and no specific dates had been provided. He set a firm deadline of 12:00 PM Tuesday for the Clintons to sign off on the committee's exact conditions, warning that failure would trigger a move to criminal contempt. Comer noted the agreement only materialized "because the House has moved forward with contempt," implying pressure from the impending vote forced the change.
Top Democrat on the panel, Rep. **Robert Garcia** (D-Calif.), confirmed the Clintons had accepted the "final few pieces" of the terms, describing it as a positive step and suggesting it would be "crazy" for Comer not to accept, given the concessions on location and duration.
Broader Context and Implications
This episode unfolded against the backdrop of renewed interest in Epstein-related files, including releases in January 2026 that mentioned both Trump and Clinton connections (though no new criminal allegations against either emerged from those). The committee has also scheduled testimony from other figures, such as Ghislaine Maxwell (Epstein's associate) for early February.
The Clintons' reversal highlights the high stakes of congressional contempt proceedings—rarely pursued against such prominent figures but carrying real legal risks when backed by a House vote and referral. By agreeing, they likely sidestep immediate criminal exposure, though the depositions themselves (closed-door and under oath) could produce politically charged moments, especially if details about Epstein interactions are probed.
Cross-referenced reporting from outlets like BBC, Politico, The New York Times, Washington Post, and others aligns closely: The Clintons finalized dates (Hillary on February 26, Bill on February 27) in D.C. depositions, with some accounts noting their last-minute push for public hearings (to avoid selective Republican leaks) and ongoing uncertainty about whether Comer fully dropped the contempt threat.
In summary, what began as a months-long defiance of subpoenas ended in an 11th-hour capitulation driven by the credible threat of contempt charges. The depositions in late February 2026 will mark a key moment in Congress's effort to extract information from high-profile witnesses in the enduring Epstein saga, potentially shedding light—or fueling further speculation—on one of the most scrutinized scandals of recent decades.
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