The panel released letters on Tuesday to several people, including US Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-R), former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-M).
According to the letter from committee chairman James Comer, Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify on October 9, and her husband Bill on October 14. US President Donald Trump had alleged that Bill Clinton had significantly more to do with Epstein than he did.
The House Oversight Committee has extensive powers and can initiate investigations. Attorney General Bondi was asked to release files by August 19, subject to court approval. The goal, the letters stated, is to advance the investigation into the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.
US media: Hearings not public
Several other former attorney generals—including Jeff Sessions and Merrick Garland—as well as former FBI directors Robert Mueller and James Comey were also subpoenaed. According to US media, these hearings are closed to the public.
Epstein had systematically abused minors for many years. According to official reports, he committed suicide in his prison cell in 2019 at the age of 66. His longtime confidante, Ghislaine Maxwell, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for her role in establishing a ring for the sexual abuse of girls.
Main accusations directed against Bill Clinton
Committee Chairman Comer directed his main accusations at Bill Clinton, who served as U.S. President from 1993 to 2001. In a letter from Comer to Clinton, he stated that Clinton, according to his own statement, flew four times on Jeffrey Epstein's private plane in 2002 and 2003."During one of these trips, you were even photographed receiving a 'massage' from one of Mr. Epstein's victims," Comer emphasized. There are also allegations that Clinton pressured Vanity Fair magazine not to publish a report on Epstein's misdeeds.
Clinton's name, like that of Trump and numerous other politicians and celebrities, appeared in previously released files related to the Epstein affair. However, neither Clinton nor Trump have been accused of wrongdoing to date. Under Trump, the U.S. Department of Justice surprisingly announced in early July that it would not release any further files on Epstein. Previously, it had raised expectations among Trump's supporters that a previously secret"client list" of Epstein existed.
Epstein affair puts pressure on Trump
Epstein's death sparked wild speculation in parts of US society because he maintained excellent contacts in American high society. Celebrities and billionaires frequented his home. US President Donald Trump also spent time with Epstein, as several party videos show. The Republican had promised during his election campaign to open the Epstein files. Because he hasn't done so yet, pressure is growing – even from within his own ranks.
In recent weeks, Trump had tried to draw attention to one of his predecessors, Bill Clinton. A Clinton spokesperson stated in 2019 that the Democrat had had no contact with Epstein for more than a decade and knew nothing about his crimes.
Explosive"WSJ" report
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, a birthday album for Epstein's 50th birthday included a congratulatory note from Trump and one from Clinton. Trump, for his part, denied being the author. According to the WSJ, a Clinton spokesperson declined to comment, citing his previous statement.
