Deal Reached After Contempt Threat The House Oversight Committee secured a deposition agreement with Bill and Hillary Clinton on Feb 4, averting an imminent criminal contempt vote [1]. Hillary will appear on Feb 26 and Bill on Feb 27, marking the first time a former president is compelled to sit for a congressional testimony since Gerald Ford in 1983 [2]. The committee had previously passed contempt resolutions—Bill 34‑8, Hillary 28‑15—after missed August subpoenas [3]. Republican leaders warned of fines and possible prison time, prompting the Clintons to negotiate rather than face severe penalties [1].

Closed‑Door, Recorded Depositions Both testimonies will be conducted behind closed doors, video‑recorded, and fully transcribed, with the transcript to be released later [1]. Committee Chair Rep. James Comer demanded unlimited, filmed interviews to ensure transparency, a condition the Clintons accepted after the contempt threat escalated [2]. Lawyers initially offered a limited four‑hour interview for Bill, but the House delayed the contempt vote to accommodate the expanded format [2]. The depositions are expected to be extensive, with no publicly announced time cap [2].

Documented Ties to Epstein Remain Central Bill Clinton’s past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is well documented; he flew on Epstein’s private jet in 2002‑2003 and maintained acquaintanceship that ended two decades ago [2][3]. Hillary Clinton maintains she never met or spoke with Epstein, and both deny any knowledge of his sexual abuse of minors [1][2]. Neither Clinton has been named by survivors, and the couple continues to assert that the subpoenas are invalid [1]. The committee’s focus on these ties underscores ongoing scrutiny of any potential concealment of Epstein’s crimes [3].

Political and Legal Fallout President Donald Trump labeled the upcoming depositions “a shame” while offering personal compliments to the Clintons [1]. Democratic support for the contempt measures was limited: nine of 21 Democrats voted for Bill’s resolution and three for Hillary’s [1][3]. Had the contempt votes proceeded, the matter would have been referred to the Justice Department for possible prosecution, though no charges have been filed to date [2]. The Clintons criticized the committee’s handling as partisan, describing their cooperation as “good faith” in a letter to Comer [2].