Clintons to Testify in Epstein Investigation, UK Minister Faces Scrutiny

Clintons to Testify in Epstein Probe as UK Figures Face Scrutiny

Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify in a congressional investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a staffer has said. The decision comes as a potential turning point in the Republican-led House of Representatives’ inquiry and could avert a planned contempt vote against the prominent Democrats.

The House Oversight Committee had previously recommended holding the Clintons in contempt for refusing to testify about their relationship with Epstein. The Clintons had offered to cooperate with the panel through written statements but initially declined to appear in person, characterizing the investigation as a partisan effort aimed at protecting former President Donald Trump.

According to Angel Urena, the Clintons’ deputy chief of staff, “They told you under oath what they know, but you don’t care. But the former president and former Secretary of State will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed the news of the Clintons’ planned testimony, stating, “That’s a good development,” and adding, “We expect everyone to comply with congress’s subpoenas.”

The investigation into Epstein continues to cast a long shadow over Washington, involving numerous high-profile figures in US politics and business. Democrats have argued that the probe is being weaponized to attack political opponents of President Trump, who himself was an associate of Epstein and has not been called to testify.

The Clintons had previously submitted sworn written statements detailing their knowledge of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. Bill Clinton acknowledged flying on Epstein’s plane several times in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work, but stated he never visited Epstein’s private island. He expressed regret over the relationship and maintained he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities. Hillary Clinton stated she had no significant interactions with Epstein, never flew on his plane, and never visited his island.

The Justice Department released what it described as the final batch of files related to the Epstein investigation last week.

UK Political Figures Under Scrutiny

The fallout from the released Epstein files is also impacting British politics. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is chairing cabinet as police assess accusations that Peter Mandelson leaked sensitive information from the government to Epstein. The Metropolitan Police are reviewing reports of alleged misconduct in public office following the release of millions of pages of documents.

The documents reportedly show Mandelson passing information to Epstein while serving as a cabinet minister in Gordon Brown’s government. Specifically, he appeared to tell Epstein he would lobby ministers over a bankers’ bonuses tax in 2009 and confirm an imminent bailout package the day before its announcement in 2010. Bank statements from 2003 and 2004 allegedly show payments totaling $75,000 (€63,500) from Epstein to Mandelson, and that Epstein also paid for an osteopathy course for Mandelson’s husband.

Mandelson has resigned his Labour Party membership and stated he has “no record or recollection” of the alleged financial payments. He remains a peer in the House of Lords, though he is currently on leave from it.

Starmer has tasked the country’s top civil servant with conducting an urgent review of Mandelson’s contacts with Epstein during his time as a government minister. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also requested an investigation into the disclosure of “confidential and market sensitive information” during the global financial crisis.

Images appearing to show Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor featured in the released documents have also prompted calls for further investigation. King Charles has been urged to contact lawyers representing a woman who claims to have been sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with the Prince. Prince Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson’s, international charity has announced it will close for the foreseeable future.