Former US President Bill Clinton has called for an on-camera public hearing as part of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sharply criticising the ongoing closed-door proceedings.
In a series of public statements, Clinton accused Republican lawmakers leading the probe of politicising the investigation and described the confidential process as a “kangaroo court” that would serve neither Epstein’s victims nor the wider public. He urged lawmakers to prioritise transparency if they genuinely seek accountability.
Clinton said he has already submitted a sworn statement outlining what he knows, supported the full release of Epstein-related files, and agreed to testify in person before the committee. However, he objected to private depositions, arguing that testimony should occur in a public setting where Americans can directly observe the proceedings.
Questioning the rationale behind closed-door hearings, Clinton said such an arrangement benefits only partisan interests rather than victims seeking justice or citizens seeking truth. He maintained that he would not participate in what he characterised as a politically driven process conducted away from public scrutiny.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also called for public hearings ahead of her own scheduled deposition, alleging that months of cooperation with committee Republicans had been disregarded and that the inquiry had shifted toward political distraction rather than accountability.
The Epstein files—comprising court records, depositions, testimonies, flight logs and investigative material tied to the late financier—remain the focus of intense political and public attention, particularly following the recent release of a large set of documents by US authorities. Epstein had been convicted of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls to his private island in the US Virgin Islands.
While numerous prominent figures from politics, business and academia are referenced in the records, legal experts emphasise that the presence of a name in the documents does not in itself indicate wrongdoing. Clinton has been mentioned in flight logs and other materials related to Epstein’s activities, including records of travel on Epstein’s aircraft in the early 2000s after leaving the White House.
The renewed demand for public testimony underscores continuing political tensions surrounding the Epstein investigation and broader calls for transparency regarding the extent of Epstein’s network and crimes.
