Clintons Agree to Testify in Epstein Investigation Amid Clash Over Public Hearing
Washington, Friday, 6 February 2026.
Despite agreeing to testify in the Epstein probe, the Clintons have escalated tensions by demanding a public hearing, challenging the committee’s preference for private depositions.
Scheduled Testimony Dates and Legal Context
Following weeks of contentious negotiations, the specific timeline for the testimony has been established: Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee on February 26, with former President Bill Clinton following on February 27 [1][6]. This agreement de-escalates a standoff that began when Chairman James Comer threatened to hold the couple in contempt of court for allegedly defying congressional subpoenas originally issued in August 2025 [1][5]. The House temporarily paused these contempt proceedings on February 2, shortly after the Clintons’ legal team indicated a willingness to comply with the committee’s demands [2].
The Battle Over Transparency
While the dates are set, the format of the interrogation remains a flashpoint. On February 5, Bill Clinton publicly criticized the committee’s refusal to hold the hearings in public, characterizing the insistence on a closed-door session as a “kangaroo court” designed for political leverage rather than fact-finding [2]. Hillary Clinton supported this position on social media, challenging Representative Comer’s commitment to transparency by stating, “There’s nothing more transparent than a public hearing, cameras on” [5][6]. The Clintons contend that a private deposition allows the Republican-led committee to manipulate the narrative, whereas a public hearing would allow Americans to judge the proceedings for themselves [2].
Committee Protocols and Partisan Friction
Chairman Comer has rejected the request for a live broadcast, adhering to a protocol of private depositions that are videotaped and transcribed for later public release [5][6]. In response to the Clintons’ public outcry, the Oversight Committee released email exchanges on February 4 which appear to show that the Clintons’ lawyers had already accepted the terms of the private depositions earlier in the week [6]. Comer accused the couple of attempting to “spin the facts,” noting that the deposition terms are consistent with those required of other witnesses, such as former Attorney General Bill Barr [6]. Meanwhile, Democrats on the committee have highlighted a disparity in the investigation’s aggression, noting that Comer has not threatened contempt against other witnesses who failed to appear or against the Department of Justice for missing document deadlines in late 2025 [2].