Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, have agreed to testify in the congressional investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
This decision follows a lengthy standoff, with the vote to hold the couple in criminal contempt looming due to their previous refusals to appear before the House Oversight Committee.
Bill Clinton admits to being acquainted with Epstein, who committed suicide in prison in 2019, but maintains that he severed ties with him over two decades ago and has no knowledge of Epstein's illegal activities.
Although the timing of the Clintons' testimonies is yet to be determined, this event represents a historic precedent, as it would be the first instance of a former president giving testimony to Congress since Gerald Ford in 1983.
The House Oversight Committee, primarily led by Republicans, approved a measure to hold the Clintons in contempt last month, receiving bipartisan support.
Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Ureña, confirmed the couple's agreement to testify through a post on X (previously Twitter) while criticizing the committee for its handling of the investigation.
Both Clintons asserted that they have previously supplied the committee with sworn statements and have provided any available information regarding their interactions with Epstein.
In response to allegations of political motives behind the investigation, they characterized the legal summons as an attempt to embarrass political adversaries, invoking former President Trump's influence.
The testimonies may shed light on the Clintons' connections to Epstein, including recorded flight details and previously released images, which have raised public intrigue and speculation.
