Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify in a House investigation related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a spokesman for the ex-president said Monday, averting a potential vote to hold the couple in contempt.
The Epstein scandal continues to cast a long shadow over Washington, entangling some of the nation’s most prominent figures and highlighting the partisan battles that have shaped the fallout.
Meanwhile, a court is set to hear a request Wednesday to block public access to investigative files linked to Epstein, after victims complained that their names had not been redacted, The New York Times reported.
The Justice Department last week released what it described as the final batch of Epstein-related pages, photos, and videos, intensifying political scrutiny. However, lawyers for victims said dozens of names and personal details were left unredacted. In one email, 32 minor victims were listed, with only one name redacted, while another woman reported her full address had been published.
Lawyers Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson requested an “immediate takedown” of the files. District Judge Richard M. Berman scheduled a hearing Wednesday, noting he was “not certain how helpful I can be.” The Justice Department said it is “working around the clock” to make further redactions, including to dozens of photos showing naked individuals.
The House Rules Committee had advanced resolutions accusing the Clintons of defying subpoenas to appear in person to answer questions about their connections to Epstein, who died in custody in 2019. Initially, the couple submitted written statements, with Bill Clinton acknowledging flights on Epstein’s plane for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work but denying visits to Epstein’s private island. Hillary Clinton said she never flew on Epstein’s plane, visited his island, or had meaningful interactions with him.
Clinton spokesman Angel Urena said on X that the couple “will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.” Following this announcement, the Rules Committee suspended its planned contempt vote Monday evening.
Democrats have accused Republicans of weaponizing the probe against political opponents, while Republicans argue that the Clintons’ past links to Epstein justify in-person questioning. Neither the Clintons nor Trump, another longtime Epstein associate, have been accused of criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein’s activities.
AFP
