Hillary Clinton is firing back at House Republicans as a bitter fight erupts over how Congress plans to record testimony from her and former President Bill Clinton about their past ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The former secretary of state went on the offensive Thursday, accusing House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of changing the rules midstream as the Clintons prepare to testify later this month. At the center of the dispute is whether their depositions, initially agreed to be conducted behind closed doors, will now be filmed in addition to being transcribed.
“Let’s stop the games,” Clinton wrote on X, directly calling out Comer. “If you want this fight, @RepJamesComer, let’s have it—in public. You love to talk about transparency. There’s nothing more transparent than a public hearing, cameras on. We will be there.”
Comer and his committee were not impressed. A committee spokesman shot back that the Clintons were attempting to “spin the facts,” accusing them of being the ones actually moving the goalposts after months of negotiations.
According to Comer, Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear for a deposition on February 26, with Bill Clinton following on February 27. The agreement only came together after prolonged wrangling and a looming threat of contempt of Congress charges. For months, the Clintons argued the subpoenas were invalid and pushed to submit sworn written statements or closed-door testimony in New York instead.
Hillary Clinton issues furious Epstein outburst as she battles GOP over video-taped testimony https://t.co/AktyX05Yak
— Unapologetic Fun (@stevewells11) February 5, 2026
That resistance hardened Republican resolve. Comer ultimately threatened contempt proceedings, a rare and serious escalation, especially when aimed at a former president and a former secretary of state. Faced with that reality, the Clintons relented.
Hillary Clinton later claimed that she and her husband had spent six months engaging “in good faith” with the Oversight Committee and had already told Republicans “what we know, under oath.” Still, she made clear she believes Comer is more interested in political theater than facts.
Bill Clinton’s appearance will mark the first time a former president testifies before Congress after being formally subpoenaed, a moment that could set a lasting precedent. Congress has traditionally shown deference to ex-presidents, but that norm is now being tested amid mounting public pressure for transparency surrounding the Epstein scandal.
The controversy has also drawn in President Donald Trump, who offered a surprising defense of the Clintons this week. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was “bothered” by Congress going after Bill Clinton and described Hillary Clinton as “a very capable woman” and “smart,” even praising her debate skills.
Both Trump and Clinton had documented social interactions with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Neither has been credibly accused of criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein, and both Clintons have insisted they were unaware of his abuse of underage girls until prosecutors brought charges years later.
Politically, the fight has exposed a generational rift among Democrats. While party leaders have largely stayed quiet, a number of younger, more progressive Democrats on the Oversight Committee voted alongside Republicans to advance contempt charges. Nine Democrats supported moving forward against Bill Clinton, and three joined Republicans in backing charges against Hillary Clinton.
As the vote approached, House Democratic leadership made little effort to block the resolutions, signaling that the Clintons no longer command the loyalty they once did within the party.
Some Democrats have even suggested the moment could come back to haunt Republicans. Rep. Daniel Goldman of New York noted that forcing a former president to comply with a subpoena sets a precedent Democrats may use in the future.
“We look forward to using this same precedent when we take back the majority in November,” Goldman said.
That comment carried particular sting given that Trump’s attorneys successfully fought off a congressional subpoena in 2022 related to the January 6 investigation, citing longstanding precedent protecting former presidents. That subpoena was eventually withdrawn.
Now, with cameras, transcripts, and political stakes all in play, the Clintons’ upcoming testimony promises to be one of the most closely watched congressional confrontations in years, reigniting questions about power, precedent, and accountability at the highest levels of American politics.
