Former US President Invoice Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, will testify in a congressional investigation into the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, a staffer mentioned on Monday (Feb 2).
The choice might head off a planned vote within the Republican-led Home of Representatives to carry the 2 outstanding Democrats in contempt, which might result in prison fees.
The US Justice Division’s latest launch of hundreds of thousands of inside paperwork associated to Epstein has revealed the late financier and intercourse offender’s ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and enterprise – each earlier than and after he pleaded responsible in 2008 to prostitution fees.
Requested if the Home would maintain up its contempt votes in opposition to the Clintons, Home Speaker Mike Johnson advised Reuters: “They’re engaged on that proper now. The attorneys are trying into the main points.”
Johnson earlier welcomed the information of the previous president and the previous secretary of state agreeing to testify. “That’s growth,” he mentioned. “We anticipate everybody to adjust to Congress’s subpoenas.”
The Home Oversight Committee really useful final week that the Clintons be held in contempt for refusing to testify about their relationship with Epstein.
The Clintons had supplied to cooperate with the panel however had refused to look in particular person, saying the investigation was a partisan train aimed toward defending Republican President Donald Trump.
“They advised you below oath what they know, however you don’t care. However the former President and former Secretary of State shall be there. They stay up for setting a precedent that applies to everybody,” the Clintons’ deputy chief of workers, Angel Urena, mentioned on social media.
Invoice Clinton flew on Epstein’s airplane a number of occasions within the early 2000s after leaving workplace. He has expressed remorse in regards to the relationship and mentioned he knew nothing about Epstein’s prison exercise.
Republican US Consultant James Comer, who chairs the Home Oversight Committee, mentioned on Monday the Clintons haven’t given a date for his or her depositions and that he’ll focus on subsequent steps with panel members.
“The Clintons’ counsel has mentioned they comply with phrases, however these phrases lack readability but once more they usually have supplied no dates for his or her depositions,” Comer mentioned.
“I’ll make clear the phrases they’re agreeing to after which focus on subsequent steps with my committee members.”
