Clintons subpoenaed to testify in congressional Epstein investigation
The US House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, has issued subpoenas to former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, as part of its investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The committee is seeking information about Epstein's history and the federal government's handling of his investigation and prosecution.
The Clintons, along with eight other high-profile figures, including former Attorneys General Merrick Garland, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, and Alberto Gonzales, as well as former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller will appear before the committee.
The committee is investigating Epstein's sex trafficking scandal and the government's response to it, including the 2007 agreement to not prosecute Epstein.
It is seeking information about Epstein's history, after President Donald Trump's administration decided against releasing more federal files on the dead financier.
That decision sparked outrage among Trump supporters and some Democrats, who refused to accept the justice department's statement that there was no "incriminating client list" in the Epstein files.
Amid a rift between Trump and some of his supporters on Epstein, the committee, made up of both Democrats and Republicans, recently voted to issue the subpoenas.
The panel has also subpoenaed the justice department itself for records related to Epstein.
Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, had indicated she was willing to testify before the powerful investigatory committee, with strict legal protections. Her scheduled 11 August deposition, though, has been postponed indefinitely.
The Epstein legal saga has spanned two decades, with Florida police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation first scrutinising the well-connected tycoon for allegations of sexual abuse in the early 2000s.
Comer wrote in letters to each person that the committee must "conduct oversight of the federal government's enforcement of sex trafficking laws generally and specifically its handling of the investigation and prosecution of Mr Epstein" and Maxwell.
He also indicated that depositions will start this month and run through the autumn, with Bill Clinton scheduled for 14 October.
The former president has acknowledged taking four trips with staff on Epstein's private plane in 2002 and 2003 and meeting with Epstein in New York. Flight logs reportedly suggest Clinton flew on Epstein's jet up to 26 times.
The committee is seeking all documents and communications related to human trafficking, exploitation of minors, sexual abuse, or related activity and wants files from the US criminal cases against Maxwell and Epstein, as well as documents from a 2007 agreement to not prosecute Epstein.
Clinton is scheduled to testify on October 14.It's unclear if the individuals named will appear before the committee and if they will testify publicly.
Source - BBC News
