Former US president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton have agreed to give closed‑door, transcribed depositions to the House Oversight Committee’s inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein. The commitment, announced on 2 February 2026, followed weeks of escalation towards a potential contempt vote over their earlier non‑appearance. (washingtonpost.com)
Shortly after the announcement, the House Rules Committee postponed consideration of criminal contempt resolutions to allow time for Oversight to confirm the terms of cooperation and secure dates. Committee chair James Comer said the agreement lacked specific scheduling and would need clarification before next steps were decided. (washingtonpost.com)
The development capped a months‑long dispute over format and scope. The Oversight Committee subpoenaed both Clintons in August 2025; their lawyers argued the demands were legally invalid and initially proposed a four‑hour transcribed interview for Bill Clinton and a sworn declaration from Hillary Clinton. Comer rejected those limits and insisted on full depositions under the subpoenas. (apnews.com)
In late January, Oversight advanced contempt recommendations with some Democratic votes, setting up a possible floor vote. Criminal contempt of Congress is a misdemeanour under 2 U.S.C. § 192, carrying up to a year’s imprisonment and a fine upon conviction; referrals proceed under 2 U.S.C. § 194 to the US attorney, who retains prosecutorial discretion. (apnews.com)
Neither Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein survivors, and both have denied knowledge of his offences. A spokesman has previously said Bill Clinton met Epstein several times and took four international trips on his aircraft in 2002–03; both Clintons maintain they have no information relevant to criminal activity. (washingtonpost.com)
If the depositions go ahead, it would be the first appearance by a former US president before a congressional panel since Gerald Ford testified in 1983, although the present case involves private, transcribed sessions rather than a public hearing. (senate.gov)
Depositions are taken under oath, recorded by an official transcriber and typically led by committee counsel with members present; transcripts can be released or used in later proceedings. As of Monday evening, Oversight staff were still negotiating the parameters of the sessions. (washingtonpost.com)
The inquiry sits alongside transparency requirements enacted by Congress. The Epstein Files Transparency Act became law on 19 November 2025 and requires the Department of Justice to publish unclassified materials related to Epstein; DOJ released tens of thousands of pages in December 2025 and said it added about three million pages in late January 2026. (congress.gov)
Oversight has indicated further witness work is under way, including a deposition of Ghislaine Maxwell scheduled for 9 February. The committee has also subpoenaed other individuals connected to historical investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. (washingtonpost.com)
For practitioners tracking congressional powers, the immediate milestones are formalising dates, resolving any conditions on questioning and determining whether the House resumes contempt proceedings if talks falter. The committee’s transcripts would then inform any findings or recommendations arising from the inquiry.