Bill Clinton Demands Public Hearing on Epstein Testimony Before House Committee
Clinton says he will only testify publicly and accuses Oversight Chairman James Comer of using him as a political prop.
Overview
Former President Bill Clinton posted on X on Feb. 7, 2025, demanding his Feb. 27, 2025, testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee be a public hearing with cameras on, officials confirmed.
The demand follows subpoenas and contempt threats after Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed to filmed, transcribed depositions scheduled for Feb. 26 and Feb. 27, 2025, according to a letter from attorney Jon Skladany and Oversight Committee statements.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said depositions will include audio, video and transcripts and that the panel is reviewing live-streaming, while Comer’s office disputed that the subpoenas required a public hearing.
Department of Justice records show more than 3 million pages from the Epstein investigation were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the committee has subpoenaed 10 people in the probe, according to committee records.
If the depositions yield "something meaningful," Comer said the committee could hold a public hearing, and the committee has not set a final decision on streaming or witness arrangements, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as partisan theater by juxtaposing Comer’s 'caved' charge with Clinton’s call for transparency, highlighting procedural stakes while repeatedly noting neither Clinton faces accusations. Many loaded terms appear as source quotes; editorial choices—quote selection, ordering, and emphasis on spectacle over substance—create the framing.
Sources (13)
FAQ
Hillary Clinton is scheduled for deposition on February 26, 2026, and Bill Clinton on February 27, 2026.
Bill Clinton demanded a public hearing with cameras, accusing Chairman James Comer of using him as a political prop and insisting it serves partisan interests rather than justice for Epstein's victims or truth for the public.
Chairman Comer stated the depositions will be transcribed and filmed, is reviewing live-streaming options, and said a public hearing could follow if depositions yield meaningful information; he disputed that subpoenas required a public hearing.
Subpoenas were issued on August 5, 2025, after unanimous subcommittee approval on July 23, 2025; the Clintons delayed compliance multiple times, leading to contempt threats before agreeing to depositions.
No, neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing; both deny knowledge of Epstein's crimes, and no Epstein survivor or associate has publicly alleged inappropriate behavior by them.
History
5 sources
5 sources