作者：瑞恩·帕特里克·琼斯和大卫·摩根
华盛顿，2月3日（路透社） – 美国前总统比尔·克林顿和2016年民主党总统候选人希拉里·克林顿将于本月晚些时候就已故性犯罪者杰弗里·爱泼斯坦（Jeffrey Epstein）的国会调查作证，共和党众议员詹姆斯·科默（James Comer）周二在一份声明中表示。
科默是众议院监督委员会主席，他表示希拉里·克林顿将于2月26日出席众议院监督委员会的听证会，比尔·克林顿则于2月27日作证。两次证词陈述都将被转录并录制。
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科默称：“我们期待就爱泼斯坦（以及吉斯莱恩·麦克斯韦）的骇人罪行进行调查，向美国人民和受害者提供透明度与问责。”
在共和党主导的众议院计划对这两位知名民主党人处以藐视法庭罪投票（可能导致刑事指控）后，克林顿夫妇同意亲自出庭。
众议院监督委员会上周建议以藐视法庭罪起诉克林顿夫妇，因其拒绝就与爱泼斯坦的关系作证。克林顿夫妇此前曾表示愿意配合该小组工作，但拒绝亲自出庭，称调查是为保护共和党总统唐纳德·特朗普的党派性行为。
美国众议院议长迈克·约翰逊表示，藐视法庭罪的投票计划暂时搁置。
约翰逊称：“为确保所有人履行义务，藐视法庭罪投票暂停。”当被问及克林顿夫妇是否会被允许公开作证时，约翰逊表示：“我需要与科默主席讨论此事，这是他负责的事务。”
比尔和希拉里·克林顿的发言人未立即回应置评请求。
美国司法部近期公布的数百万份与爱泼斯坦相关的内部文件显示，这位已故金融家兼性犯罪者在2008年承认卖淫指控前后，与政治、金融、学术界和商界的众多知名人士存在关联。
比尔·克林顿在2000年代初卸任后曾多次乘坐爱泼斯坦的私人飞机，司法部公布的照片显示他与面部信息被隐去的女性一同游泳和摆姿势。他对这段关系表示后悔，并声称对爱泼斯坦的犯罪活动一无所知。
爱泼斯坦2019年在曼哈顿监狱牢房中死亡，被裁定为自杀。吉斯莱恩·麦克斯韦（英国社交名媛、爱泼斯坦前女友）因犯有贩卖未成年人等罪被判20年监禁。
大卫·摩根在华盛顿报道；瑞恩·帕特里克·琼斯在多伦多撰写；罗莎尔巴·奥布莱恩编辑
Clintons to testify in Epstein congressional probe later this month, contempt vote on hold | Reuters
By Ryan Patrick Jones and David Morgan
WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Former U.S. president Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will testify later this month in a congressional investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Republican U.S. Representative James Comer said in a statement on Tuesday.
Hillary Clinton will appear before the House Oversight Committee on February 26 and Bill Clinton will do so on February 27, said Comer, who chairs the committee. Both depositions will be transcribed and filmed.
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“We look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and (Ghislaine) Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors,” Comer said.
The Clintons agreed to appear before the committee in person after the Republican-led House of Representatives planned a vote to hold the two prominent Democrats in contempt, which could have led to criminal charges.
The House Oversight Committee recommended last week that the Clintons be held in contempt for refusing to testify about their relationship with Epstein. The Clintons had previously offered to cooperate with the panel but not appear in person, saying the investigation was a partisan exercise aimed at protecting Republican President Donald Trump.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said plans for the contempt vote were being put on hold for the moment.
“Contempt is on pause to ensure that everybody goes through with their obligation,” Johnson said. Asked whether the Clintons would be allowed to testify in public, Johnson said: “I have to talk to Chairman Comer about that. It’s his operation.”
Spokespeople for Bill and Hillary Clinton didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The U.S. Justice Department’s recent release of millions of internal documents related to Epstein has revealed the late financier and sex offender’s ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business – both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges.
Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane several times in the early 2000s after leaving office, while photos released by the Justice Department show him swimming and posing with women whose faces are redacted. He has expressed regret about the relationship and said he knew nothing about Epstein’s criminal activity.
Epstein’s 2019 death in a Manhattan jail cell was ruled a suicide. Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and Epstein’s former girlfriend, is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking of a minor and other charges.
Reporting by David Morgan in Washington; Writing by Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien
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