Dems say Clinton’s testimony overshadows impeachment effort but won’t bring new Epstein answers
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Democrats believe Bill and Hillary Clinton’s decision to appear before the House Oversight Committee will clear up accusations of not following through on the congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein — while strengthening precedents about the subpoena power Democrats can wield down the line.
At the same time, lawmakers doubt their testimony will provide the answers Republicans want.
“I think House Republicans want this to be practical and a public show,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., No. 3 Democrats in the room.
“I think it satisfies them [subpoena] requirements … as long as they show they are willing to answer questions,” he added, referring to the congressional request to compel their testimony.
HILLARY CLINTON EXPECTS TO OPPOSE EPSTEIN PROBE SUBPOENA, CRIMINAL CHARGES AT RISK
Former President Bill Clinton, left, is pictured with his wife and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. (Kenny Holston – Pool/Getty Images)
Republicans are hoping to learn more about the relationship Bill and Hillary Clinton may have had with Epstein – the disgraced financier who killed himself while incarcerated on child sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will appear before the House Oversight Committee to present her request on Feb. 26, while former President Bill Clinton will appear on Feb. 27.
Clinton’s decision to testify follows efforts by Republicans to defy Congress.
The Oversight Committee consolidated the contempt rulings along bipartisan lines last month after the pair failed to appear to file appeals in January. If introduced in the House and passed, the resolution would refer the Clintons to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution, where, if convicted, they could face a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive at the US Capitol on Jan. 20, 2017. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Notably, even a number of progressive members of “The Party” joined in supporting the review of the contempt decision, expressing bipartisan frustration at their absence.
Aguilar said he believes the Clintons have now fixed that.
BILL, HILLARY CLINTON ARE AT RISK FOR FATHER-IN-LAW OF CRIMINAL COMMITMENT AFTER RELEASING HOUSE DOCUMENTS IN EPSTEIN PROBE
“When people get a legal subpoena, they should obey it, and they should share it [testimony],” Aguilar said. “There’s absolutely no way the offensive line can move forward if they’re working together.”
He noted that the imminent use of contempt rulings to compel evidence could play into the hands of Democrats in the future.
“It sets an interesting precedent for who’s going to be in Oversight, and we’ll see what next year holds for Trump Inc. and the Trump family,” Aguilar said, referring to the demands that Democrats could make if they hold a majority in 2027.
Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., is one of nine Democrats who voted to move the contempt consideration out of committee. He said that although he would probably have opposed this measure if it had reached the floor, he has voted for it in committee, hoping to strengthen the power of the congress.
“I think whoever you are, if Congress wants you to testify, you should testify,” Frost said Wednesday.
Like Aguilar, he believes the new position has been set by Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., whom the committee could ask to appear.
“It sets new standards. It’s a new precedent for anyone to follow — former presidents, their families, their spouses, anyone — depending on the investigation we do in the future,” Frost said.
CLINTONS AGREE TO SUBMIT AFTER HOUSE THREATENED TO DISREGARD JEFFREY EPSTEIN PROBE
Former president Bill Clinton was seen in photos with Jeffrey Epstein as part of the release of the DOJ Epstein files on Dec. 19, 2025. (Department of Justice)
Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, echoed the thinking of his colleagues about Clinton’s compliance with subpoenas.
“I think it’s a good development. You know, they had an opportunity to look at it, and they chose ‘I’m going to come and testify,’ and I applaud them for doing it,” Thompson said.
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“No,” Thompson said when asked if he expected their testimony to reveal new information about the pair’s relationship with Epstein. “I don’t think they have anything to worry about. I’m looking forward to hearing what they have to say.”
