A partisan flap tied to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is set to surface in Westchester County with a congressional panel coming to Chappaqua to question Bill and Hillary Clinton behind closed doors in the hamlet where they live.
The former president and former secretary of state are scheduled to appear in separate sessions over two days, with Hillary Clinton testifying on Thursday, Feb. 26, and Bill Clinton on Friday, Feb. 27. The depositions before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will take place at the Chappaqua Crossing complex, the former headquarters of Reader’s Digest.
The appearances come after months of jousting over demands by the panel’s Republican leaders to question the Democratic couple about any past ties to Epstein, the late financier whose sexual exploitation of girls and young women has ignited a mushrooming scandal for the people once in his circle. Some now face belated consequences due to a trove of released evidence.
What to know about Clintons’ Epstein testimony
The Clintons gave the committee sworn statements about what they knew about Epstein and initially resisted testifying in person, accusing Republicans of seeking only to embarrass them. But after members from both parties voted to hold them in contempt for defying subpoenas, the couple agreed to be deposed and demanded the questioning be held in public, saying they had nothing to hide.
The depositions in Chappaqua are closed to the public but will be recorded on video and taken down in transcripts, both of which will be made public, according to the committee.
Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who leads the committee, says the Clintons will be asked about any past interactions with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate who’s serving prison time for her involvement.
“We look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors,” Comer said in a Feb. 3 statement.
Democrats have accused the committee of pursuing the Clintons to distract attention from President Donald Trump’s own past ties to Epstein. Justice Department documents from its Epstein investigation include photos of the former president and reportedly show he took four trips on Epstein’s jet in 2002 and 2003. Hillary Clinton recently told the BBC she doesn’t recall ever meeting Epstein.
Both Clintons have fired back at Comer’s committee in social media posts.
“I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared,” Bill Clinton wrote on Feb. 6. “If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about.”
Taking the questioning to the Clintons’ adopted hometown raised the prospect of a media spectacle and heavy security presence in New Castle, the town where Chappaqua is located. Town Supervisor Victoria Tipp sent residents an alert about the event, saying police were working with all involved agencies to maintain order, protect schools and keep traffic moving. Town leaders had asked the committee to use a different venue “to lessen the impact on our community,” but no change was made.
“We respectfully ask community members to allow for additional travel time, avoid designated restricted areas, and follow the directions of law enforcement personnel,” Tipp said in her message.
The Clintons bought their home in Chappaqua in 1999 as Bill Clinton’s second term in the White House neared its end and Hillary Clinton was preparing to run in New York for a U.S. Senate seat.
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA TODAY Network. Reach him at CMcKenna@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Clintons set to testify in hometown Chappaqua for House Epstein probe
Reporting by Chris McKenna, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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