Clintons push for televised testimony in Epstein probe amid GOP fears of Trump revelations
In a dramatic turn of events that has thrust the lingering shadows of Jeffrey Epstein back into the national spotlight, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of its ongoing investigation into the late financier’s sex-trafficking network.
The depositions, scheduled for 26 February (Hillary) and 27 February (Bill), come after months of tense negotiations and a near-miss contempt of Congress vote, but the Clintons are now vigorously advocating for the sessions to be televised publicly – a move that has reportedly sown disarray among Republicans wary of potential disclosures about Donald Trump’s own ties to Epstein.
The probe, led by Republican Chairman James Comer of Kentucky, stems from renewed scrutiny following the Department of Justice’s staggered release of Epstein-related files in late 2025, which highlighted connections between the convicted sex offender and numerous high-profile figures, including politicians, celebrities, and business leaders. Epstein, who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, had long cultivated relationships with the elite, using his wealth and influence to allegedly facilitate abuse of underage girls.
His partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 and is serving a 20-year sentence. The House investigation, launched in mid-2025 amid public outcry over perceived DOJ delays under the first Trump administration, aims to examine federal mishandling of the case and any undue influence from Epstein’s associates.
Bill Clinton’s association with Epstein dates back to the early 2000s, when he flew on Epstein’s private jet – dubbed the “Lolita Express” – multiple times, including trips to Africa for Clinton Foundation work. Flight logs show at least 26 flights, though Clinton has maintained he severed ties in 2005 and denies any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. Hillary Clinton’s links are more tangential, primarily through her husband’s activities and Maxwell’s occasional presence at Clinton family events, such as Chelsea Clinton’s wedding in 2010. Neither has been accused of wrongdoing, but Republicans have zeroed in on the Clintons, issuing subpoenas in August 2025 after they initially resisted, citing the probe as a partisan witch hunt designed to deflect from Trump’s own Epstein connections.
The Clintons’ reversal came on 3 February, just hours before a contempt vote that could have led to DOJ referrals for prosecution – a risky prospect under Trump’s second term. Their legal team, in emails released by Comer, agreed to closed-door, transcribed depositions but reiterated a preference for public hearings to ensure transparency. Hillary Clinton amplified this demand on X (formerly Twitter) on 5 February, urging Comer to “stop the games” and allow live broadcasts: “The American people deserve to hear the truth in the open, not behind closed doors.” Sources close to the Clintons told NPR that public testimony would prevent selective leaks and allow full context on their limited interactions with Epstein.
This push for televising has rattled GOP ranks, according to insiders and Democratic strategists. Republicans, who control the House, have focused the probe heavily on the Clintons while sidestepping Trump’s well-documented friendship with Epstein, which included over a dozen joint appearances in the 1990s and 2000s. Trump once called Epstein a “terrific guy” who liked “beautiful women… on the younger side,” though he later claimed a falling out in 2004. Flight logs and photos show Trump on Epstein’s jet at least once, and Epstein’s brother testified in 2025 that Trump flew multiple times. Democrats, including Oversight’s ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), have warned that if the Clintons reveal details about Trump’s Epstein ties – potentially from secondhand knowledge or Maxwell’s accounts – it could backfire spectacularly on Republicans.
“Comer’s obsession with the Clintons is a transparent diversion from Trump’s own entanglements,” Raskin said in a statement. “If this goes public, the disarray in GOP ranks will be palpable – they’re terrified of what might come out.” Indeed, Trump’s own comments on February 5 to NBC News expressed unease: “It bothers me that somebody’s going after Bill Clinton… I like Bill Clinton.” This sympathy from Trump, who has historically clashed with the Clintons, underscores internal GOP tensions, with some hardliners pushing the probe while moderates fear it could alienate voters ahead of midterms.
The hearings could mark a historic moment: Bill Clinton would be the first ex-president to testify before Congress since Gerald Ford in 1983. Comer insists on closed sessions for “substantive” questioning, dismissing public hearings as “entertaining but not informative.” Yet, with public interest high – polls show 62% of Americans want full Epstein transparency – the pressure for live coverage mounts.
With agencies.
Caption: Former US President Bill Clinton (R) and Hillary Clinton (L) wait for their daughter Chelsea Clinton to cross the finish line in the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon at Central Park in New York, New York, USA, 2 November 2025. EPA/SARAH YENESEL