Washington — Invoice and Hillary Clinton agreed to testify within the Home Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, forward of anticipated votes within the Home later this week on holding the pair in contempt of Congress.
In an electronic mail to the committee on Monday, the Clintons’ authorized staff mentioned the previous president and former secretary of state “settle for the phrases of your letter and can seem for depositions on mutually agreeable dates.”
“As has been the Committee’s observe, please verify the Home won’t transfer ahead with contempt proceedings, because the Chairman said in his letter this morning,” mentioned the e-mail, which was obtained by CBS Information.
Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who chairs the oversight panel, mentioned in a press release late Monday: “The Clintons’ counsel has mentioned they comply with phrases, however these phrases lack readability but once more and so they have offered no dates for his or her depositions. The one motive they’ve mentioned they comply with phrases is as a result of the Home has moved ahead with contempt. I’ll make clear the phrases they’re agreeing to after which focus on subsequent steps with my committee members.”
The Home Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Clintons final 12 months, however the pair referred to as the subpoenas legally invalid and refused to appear earlier than the panel, which is probing the Justice Division’s investigations into Epstein. The committee then recommended holding the Clintons in contempt in January.
Each contempt resolutions superior out of the Home Oversight Committee with bipartisan assist, although extra Democrats supported the one associated to Invoice Clinton, who has acknowledged earlier interactions with Epstein.
Neither Clinton has been accused of any wrongdoing within the Epstein case.
In an effort to keep away from the contempt of Congress votes, legal professionals for the Clintons mentioned in a Jan. 31 letter to the committee that the previous president would agree to take a seat for a four-hour transcribed interview if it takes place in New York Metropolis and is “confined to issues associated to the investigations and prosecutions” of Epstein. The previous secretary of state would provide one other sworn declaration to reply any questions the committee nonetheless has, the legal professionals mentioned. If the committee nonetheless requires her in-person testimony, her look ought to observe the identical phrases as her husband’s testimony, they mentioned.
The Clintons’ authorized staff requested that the subpoenas and contempt resolutions be withdrawn if the circumstances have been agreed to.
Responding in a letter earlier Monday, Comer mentioned the panel has “critical issues” in regards to the provide.
Comer argued the proposed scope of Invoice Clinton’s testimony was too restricted and “would end in your consumer answering few questions.” The opposite calls for have been “not cheap” and “inadequate,” Comer mentioned. Comer mentioned the phrases proposed for Hillary Clinton’s sworn declaration or look have been additionally unacceptable.
The information of the Clintons’ provide was first delivered by Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia throughout Monday night time’s Home Guidelines Committee assembly, which was anticipated to advance the contempt resolutions and tee them up for flooring votes within the coming days.
“I perceive that the Clintons have agreed to seem for depositions and have agreed to the phrases that you just specified by your most up-to-date letter,” Walkinshaw advised Comer as they each appeared earlier than the committee.
Comer mentioned he was unaware of the information. The Clintons’ legal professional had emailed the committee with the provide whereas Comer was testifying, based on a committee aide.
Comer left the Home Guidelines Committee, which briefly recessed for flooring votes Monday, questioning the Clintons’ settlement.
“There isn’t any provide. They texted us and mentioned they settle for our provide. There isn’t any provide,” he advised reporters. “What do they settle for? … They mentioned they might settle for my provide. They despatched a proposal, and I rejected their provide.”
Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the highest Democrat on the Home Oversight Committee, mentioned the Clintons have now accepted “each single request” from Republicans on the phrases of their testimony and urged Comer to reply with dates for his or her look.
“We will discover out proper now if Chairman Comer truly needs to listen to from the Clintons, or that is all a political, partisan witch hunt by Donald Trump,” Garcia advised reporters Monday night time.
GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, the chairwoman of the Home Guidelines Committee, mentioned later Monday night time that the panel would postpone additional consideration of the contempt resolutions till it is clarified “with the Clintons what they’re truly agreeing to.”
“Nevertheless, ought to there not be substantial compliance and settlement in a single day, the committee will return to proceed the listening to on the contempt,” she mentioned.
The Home Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Clintons in August, together with former Justice Division officers relationship again to George W. Bush’s administration. Since then, solely Invoice Barr, who served as legal professional basic throughout President Trump’s first time period, has offered closed-door testimony to the committee, whereas the panel has accepted written statements from the others.
Comer has mentioned the committee accepted statements from different former officers as a result of they weren’t photographed with Epstein or his affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell, “neither is there any proof that they have been immediately concerned within the investigation.”
The Clintons have accused Comer of treating them in another way than different officers in an try to embarrass them and punish Mr. Trump’s political rivals.
The Justice Division released a massive trove of Epstein files final week that embrace mentions of quite a few notable figures, together with Invoice Clinton and Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has additionally not been accused of any wrongdoing because it pertains to the Epstein case.
