By M10News Politics Desk | August 6, 2025
The U.S. House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton to testify under oath in connection with the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
The subpoenas, issued by the Republican-led committee, also target the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a trove of files linked to the disgraced financier, including communications involving eight former high-level law enforcement officials.
President Donald Trump has consistently denied any prior knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. He has said he severed ties with Epstein long before the financier’s 2019 arrest.
Despite repeated attempts by Mr Trump and his allies to move past the DOJ’s decision not to release a complete accounting of the Epstein investigation, bipartisan calls for transparency continue to mount.
Lawmakers across both major U.S. political parties—and many of Mr Trump’s own supporters—have pressed for full disclosure of what federal investigators uncovered in relation to Epstein’s operations and potential accomplices.
Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide, but doubts persist, fueling public and political demand for more answers.
The subpoenas for the Clintons were issued in July as part of a broader push by Republicans on the committee to uncover what they allege is a politically motivated cover-up by the Biden administration and senior DOJ officials.
In addition to testimony, the committee is seeking internal communications between the DOJ and members of President Joe Biden’s administration regarding decisions made during the Epstein probe.
The Oversight Committee had earlier subpoenaed Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for procuring underage girls for Epstein. She was recently transferred from a Florida facility to one in Texas.
Bill Clinton’s past links to Epstein have long drawn scrutiny, though he has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein’s known victims. His presence aboard Epstein’s private jet on multiple occasions has been confirmed by flight logs.
A spokesperson for Mr Clinton has previously stated that while he flew on Epstein’s jet, he never visited any of the financier’s homes and had no knowledge of his illegal activities.
The Justice Department has until August 19 to comply with the subpoena by turning over all relevant documents, including internal reports, correspondence, and grand jury-related materials.
The eight former officials named in the subpoenas include individuals who served under both Democrat and Republican administrations, highlighting the committee’s intent to cast a wide investigatory net.
According to the committee’s official notice, the schedule of depositions will span three months, with Hillary Clinton expected to appear on October 9, and Bill Clinton five days later on October 14.
While congressional committees have previously subpoenaed sitting and former presidents—Mr Trump himself among them—none has ever been compelled to testify under threat of penalty.
It remains unclear whether the Clintons will comply voluntarily or challenge the subpoenas through the courts, a legal route often used by past officials to delay or avoid compelled testimony.
The committee’s ranking Republican, Representative James Comer, said the investigation aims to expose what he described as “systemic failures and potential political interference” in the handling of Epstein’s case.
Democrats have denounced the move as a partisan tactic designed to deflect from Trump’s own legal troubles, including ongoing criminal proceedings and civil litigation related to alleged misconduct during his presidency.
Hillary Clinton has not publicly responded to the subpoena but has previously dismissed conspiracy theories linking her or her husband to Epstein’s crimes as “baseless and politically motivated.”
Advocates for Epstein’s victims say renewed congressional scrutiny could bring long-overdue accountability and answers, particularly around how Epstein avoided serious prosecution for years despite mounting allegations.
In a statement last week, one attorney representing multiple victims welcomed the committee’s action, saying the Clintons’ depositions could “shed light on systemic enablers and institutional blind spots.”
Civil liberties groups, however, have warned that congressional overreach in the matter may risk politicising the justice process and infringing on the rights of individuals not charged with a crime.
The Department of Justice has not yet commented publicly on the subpoenas or confirmed whether it will comply with the document request by the August deadline.
Legal analysts say the DOJ could seek to withhold some records on the basis of executive privilege or national security considerations, particularly if any of the requested files involve foreign intelligence sources.
A former DOJ official told M10News that the subpoenas may set off a constitutional showdown between the legislative and executive branches if the administration refuses to comply.
Adding to the political stakes, Mr Trump has reportedly directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to consider unsealing grand jury evidence related to Ghislaine Maxwell’s indictment—a move that could further inflame tensions between the White House and DOJ.
While grand jury records are typically kept secret, exceptions can be made under special circumstances if deemed in the public interest or necessary for congressional oversight.
The Maxwell files are believed to contain detailed witness testimony and communications gathered during the years-long federal probe into Epstein’s network of abuse, which allegedly spanned multiple countries.
With the Clinton depositions scheduled just weeks before the November 2025 election cycle heats up, the investigation could become a flashpoint in an already polarised political climate.
The committee has pledged to release a public report summarising its findings once all testimonies are complete, potentially making its conclusions a major issue heading into the 2026 election year.
Editing by M10News Politics Desk | Contact: politics@m10news.com
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