Contained in the Excessive-Stakes Escalation of the Epstein Investigation
4 min learnNew DelhiFeb 26, 2026 09:40 PM IST
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is ready to testify earlier than lawmakers as a part of a congressional investigation into convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, exhibiting an escalation in scrutiny surrounding high-profile figures linked to the case.
The closed-door interview, organised by the Republican-led Home Oversight Committee, will happen in Chappaqua, New York, which is the Clintons’ hometown. It begins with two days of testimony that will even embrace former President Invoice Clinton, in what is predicted to be the primary occasion of a former US president being compelled to testify earlier than Congress.
The interviews observe months of tense exchanges between the committee, chaired by James Comer and the previous first couple. The panel had threatened contempt proceedings after rejecting their earlier supply to supply sworn written statements as a substitute of showing in individual, in accordance with the Related Press reviews.
Talking earlier to the BBC, Hillary Clinton maintained that she and her husband have restricted data of Epstein’s actions. “We’ve got a really clear report that we’ve been prepared to speak about,” she stated.
Hillary additionally added that she doesn’t recall ever assembly Epstein; nonetheless, interactions with Epstein’s former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell, at occasions linked to the Clinton basis.
Epstein connections with highly effective people
The investigation comes after renewed political and public stress to look at connections between Epstein and highly effective people. US President Donald Trumpwho additionally confronted related scrutiny, had beforehand authorised the discharge of case information associated to Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on federal intercourse trafficking costs, AP reported.
Hillary, in a BBC interview final week, stated, “Different witnesses have been requested to testify. They gave written statements below oath. We provided that.”
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“Why do they need to pull us into this? To divert consideration from President Trump. This isn’t sophisticated,” she argued.
Republicans have more and more targeted on Invoice Clinton’s previous affiliation with Epstein, together with journeys taken on Epstein’s non-public jet within the early 2000s for charitable work. Lately launched paperwork and pictures have added to the political highlight, although Clinton has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Clintons denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes
The Clintons have denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes, accusing Republicans of politicising the problem. Hillary Clinton has argued that the investigation is getting used to divert consideration from different figures, together with Trump and reiterated that each she and her husband are prepared to testify publicly.
In line with NBC, in an interview final 12 months with Deputy Legal professional Common Todd Blanche, Ghislaine Maxwell claimed that Invoice Clinton was her good friend fairly than an affiliate of Jeffrey Epstein. She stated it was she who requested Epstein to permit Clinton, together with members and company of his basis, to make use of his non-public plane in 2002.
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Maxwell stated she couldn’t recall precisely when she first met Clinton however famous that she was launched to him by a mutual acquaintance after he left workplace in 2001. She additionally acknowledged that she met Hillary Clinton sooner or later, both in Nantucket or Martha’s Winery in Massachusetts, and added that she had visited the Clintons’ house in Chappaqua on a number of events, although she didn’t specify when.
She additional informed Blanche that Clinton shared an in depth friendship with billionaire Ted Waitt, whom she stated she dated between 2003 and 2010.