Clintons to Testify on Epstein Ties; Democrats Warn of Precedent for Trump
TL/DR –
Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about their connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, to avoid being held in contempt of Congress. Democrats warn that this sets a precedent of subpoenaing past presidents, first ladies, and family members under threat of criminal charges, which could be applied to Donald Trump in the future. Despite warnings from Democrats, the White House dismissed concerns and the Republicans moved forward with the vote to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress.
Clintons Agree to Testify in Epstein Probe
Bill and Hillary Clinton agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, averting being held in contempt of Congress. The precedent being set by this move has Democrats predicting the GOP will soon regret their decision.
Democrats have argued that this establishes the ability of Congress to subpoena past presidents, first ladies, and their families under the threat of criminal charges. Rep. Ted Lieu has made it clear that Donald Trump will be brought in to testify under oath when the power dynamics shift.
The precedent has Rep. Maxwell Frost and other Democrats ready to take advantage of the situation. Frost noted that not just Donald Trump, but all of his family members would be subpoenaed, if need be.
Hillary and Bill Clinton to Testify on Epstein Case
Democratic lawmakers believe this sets a dangerous precedent, warning “what goes around comes around”. The White House dismissed these warnings, stating that Trump is focused on delivering results for the American people.
As a consequence of the Clintons agreeing to testify, a contempt vote has been avoided. They are set to appear before the committee on Feb. 26 and 27 for filmed depositions. There is currently a standoff over the format of the interview, with the Clintons preferring a public appearance.
Trump and Clinton’s Connection with Epstein
Both Bill Clinton and Trump were known to be friendly with Epstein in the ’90s and early 2000s, before his conviction. They both claim to have cut off their relationships with Epstein before his charges. They have both denied any wrongdoing and have not been accused by law enforcement.
There is a growing sentiment among Democrats that Trump should be called to testify now about his interactions with Epstein and what he might have known about Epstein’s crimes.
Trump has previously refused to comply with a subpoena from House Democrats in 2022 related to the Jan 6 Capitol attack. However, the recent turning of the tide suggests that he may soon be called to testify.
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