Deal Announced February 2nd Comes After Oversight Panel Advanced Contempt Resolutions Over Alleged Subpoena Defiance; Depositions Still Being Negotiated

Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 8:00 A.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

WASHINGTON, DC.- Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed Monday night, February 2, 2026, to provide sworn testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform amid a fast-moving congressional push to hold them in contempt of Congress in connection with the committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his network of high-profile associations.

     The agreement came just hours before the House was expected to proceed toward a vote on contempt resolutions, a move that could have escalated the dispute into a formal enforcement action by Congress. Multiple outlets reported that the Clintons agreed to sit for closed-door, under-oath depositions, with specific dates and conditions still under negotiation.

Scope Of The Investigation;

     House Oversight Committee Republicans say the investigation centers on how Epstein cultivated, maintained, and benefited from relationships with political, financial, and social elites over decades, and whether government institutions failed to act, or acted selectively, in response to credible allegations against him.

     Bill Clinton’s name has appeared in prior reporting related to Epstein, including documented travel aboard Epstein’s private aircraft in the early 2000s. Clinton has previously acknowledged limited contact with Epstein but has repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s criminal conduct.

     Hillary Clinton is not accused of personal involvement with Epstein. Committee investigators have stated her testimony is sought to clarify timelines, communications, and institutional knowledge during periods when Epstein maintained access to prominent political figures.

     Neither Bill Clinton nor Hillary Clinton has been charged with any crime in connection with Epstein.

The Contempt Threat;

     The pressure on the Clintons intensified after the House Oversight Committee voted on January 21, 2026, to advance resolutions recommending that the full House hold both Clintons in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with subpoenas seeking sworn testimony.

     Contempt of Congress is one of the strongest enforcement mechanisms available to lawmakers. A contempt citation can result in a referral to the Department of Justice for prosecution or be used as leverage to compel compliance with congressional demands.

     Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) had signaled that the committee would continue moving forward with contempt proceedings unless the Clintons agreed to testify under terms acceptable to the committee, including testimony under oath.

A Last-Minute Agreement;

     According to reporting late Monday, negotiations accelerated as the House prepared for potential floor action. By Monday night, representatives for the Clintons confirmed that both agreed to provide sworn testimony, prompting leadership to pause immediate contempt escalation while logistics are finalized.

     Comer publicly indicated that while the agreement was a step toward compliance, the committee would not formally withdraw contempt resolutions until firm deposition dates and conditions are secured.

     C-SPAN captured the moment the development was communicated during House proceedings, underscoring how rapidly the agreement altered the legislative timeline.

What Happens Next;

     As of early Tuesday morning, the key unresolved questions remained procedural rather than substantive: when the depositions will take place, whether they will be conducted separately or jointly, and whether the committee will consider the agreement’s full compliance sufficient to halt contempt action entirely.

     House Oversight officials have emphasized that any delay or deviation from agreed-upon terms could revive contempt proceedings.

     The case remains one of the highest-profile congressional inquiries tied to Epstein’s legacy, reflecting ongoing bipartisan scrutiny of how power, influence, and institutional failure intersected in one of the most consequential criminal scandals of the past generation.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, for Englebrook Independent News, and is based on contemporaneous reporting from February 2–3, 2026, from national outlets, and a January 21, 2026, statement released by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. All facts were verified against publicly available records and on-the-record reporting at the time of publication.