Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have finally agreed to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, as reported by The Hill. They’ll be appearing as part of the panel’s ongoing investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Oversight Committee Chair James Comer found out about the stunning reversal in real time during a Rules Committee meeting. The moment got extremely heated, with Democrats demanding to know if the panel would still move forward with the contempt resolution. Rep. James Walkinshaw, a Democrat from Virginia, shared the update during the hearing. Walkinshaw told Comer he understood the Clintons had agreed to appear for depositions and accepted the terms Comer laid out in his most recent letter.
When Rules Committee ranking member Jim McGovern asked Comer if he was aware of the agreement, Comer just flat-out said, “No.” McGovern pressed Comer about why they were even holding the hearing if the Clintons had agreed to testify. Comer shot back, complaining, “Somehow the media and the Democrats get the correspondence way before we do.” Walkinshaw and McGovern quickly insisted Comer’s own staff already had the letter.
This sudden about-face comes after months of intense negotiations
Just last month, the House Oversight Committee actually voted to advance resolutions to hold both the former President and the former Secretary of State in contempt of Congress. The panel voted 34-8 and 28-15 to advance those resolutions, respectively. The threat of Congress moving forward with contempt proceedings clearly provided the necessary leverage here.
Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña even blasted Comer on X shortly after the news broke. Ureña wrote that the Clintons “negotiated in good faith. You did not.” The spokesperson added that the former President and former Secretary of State will be there and that they look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.
Comer released a statement shortly afterward expressing skepticism. He claimed the Clintons’ counsel said they agreed to terms, but those terms “lack clarity yet again.” He also pointed out they hadn’t provided any dates for their depositions. Comer believes the only reason they agreed was because the House moved forward with contempt. He stated he plans to clarify the terms before discussing next steps with his committee members.
The Rules Committee ultimately decided to postpone considering the contempt resolutions. Chair Virginia Foxx explained the Oversight Committee needed more time “to clarify with the Clintons what they are actually agreeing to.” Foxx warned, however, that the committee would return to continue the hearing on the contempt should there not be “substantial compliance and agreement overnight.”
Comer has been targeting the Clintons for months, urging them back in August to comply with a subpoena asking for their testimony on their link to Epstein. Earlier, Comer had rejected an earlier offer from the Clintons, calling it “unreasonable.” He wrote a letter to their attorneys saying the Clintons’ “desire for special treatment is both frustrating and an affront to the American people’s desire for transparency.”
Published: Feb 3, 2026 10:00 am