Bill Clinton Calls Out James Comer And Demands A Public Hearing On Epstein

Former President Bill Clinton is calling for a public hearing as part of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, arguing that closed-door testimony serves political interests rather than the public.

Clinton’s demand came Friday, one day after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a similar request. Both Clintons are scheduled to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee later this month, Hillary Clinton on February 26, followed by Bill Clinton on February 27.

In a post on X, Bill Clinton said he would not participate in what he described as a “closed-door kangaroo court,” accusing Republicans of using the process for partisan purposes.

“If they want answers, let’s do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about,” Clinton wrote.

Dispute Over Closed-Door Depositions

The Oversight Committee, chaired by James Comer, initially sought closed-door depositions and written testimony from the Clintons. Comer previously rejected requests from Clinton’s legal team to hold the depositions publicly or outside Washington, D.C.

The Clintons agreed to testify only after the committee signaled it was prepared to move toward holding them in contempt of Congress. Bill Clinton said he has already called for the full public release of Department of Justice files related to Epstein and agreed to appear in person.

He criticized Comer for allowing cameras only during private depositions, questioning who benefits from that arrangement.

“Not Epstein’s victims, who deserve justice. Not the public, who deserve the truth,” Clinton wrote. “It serves only partisan interests.”

Committee Pushback and Public Hearing Agreement

Comer responded hours before Bill Clinton’s post, saying that depositions are recorded and that the committee’s process would not be dictated by the Clintons. He later agreed to hold a public hearing after the depositions are completed.

Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña said Comer had “finally accepted” the offer of a public hearing and that the Clintons welcome the opportunity to testify openly.

“They look forward to answering questions in a public setting where every American can hear the exchange and draw their own conclusions,” Ureña said.

The Oversight Committee disputed claims that Republicans ignored the Clintons’ cooperation, posting email exchanges that showed negotiations over deposition terms. The committee said the Clintons’ conditions were consistent with those applied to other witnesses, including former Attorney General Bill Barr and former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta.

Longstanding Denials and Trump’s Reaction

Both Bill and Hillary Clinton have repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activity. None of Epstein’s victims have accused Bill Clinton of wrongdoing.

In a notable shift, President Donald Trump, a longtime critic of the Clintons, defended Bill Clinton during a recent interview, saying it bothered him that Clinton was being targeted.

“I still like him,” Trump said, adding that Clinton had treated him well in past interactions.