Forcing Bill Clinton to Testify Will Backfire on GOP — Setting Stage for President Trump, Melania to Explain Epstein Ties: Dems

Democratic lawmakers are warning that Republican efforts to compel testimony from Bill Clinton over his past associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein could ultimately backfire on the GOP — potentially opening the door to similar scrutiny of Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump.

Democrats argue that such a move would establish a sweeping precedent: if former presidents are summoned to publicly account for their associations, then the standard should apply evenly across party lines. “You can’t open that door for one side and expect it to stay closed for the other,” one Democratic strategist said, contending that forcing Clinton’s testimony could set the stage for Republicans to face similar demands involving Trump-era connections.

Trump has also faced questions in the past regarding his social relationship with Epstein prior to their public falling-out in the mid-2000s. The former president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has distanced himself from Epstein’s criminal conduct. Democrats say that if congressional oversight expands to include former presidents’ personal associations, Trump and others could be asked to explain the extent of their ties.

Legal experts caution that compelling testimony from former presidents could trigger complex constitutional disputes over executive privilege and the scope of congressional investigative authority. While Congress has broad oversight powers, the optics of summoning past commanders-in-chief could further inflame partisan divisions.

Republicans, for their part, maintain that no individual — regardless of political stature — should be shielded from scrutiny. They argue that transparency is essential when allegations or unanswered questions persist, especially in cases involving a figure as notorious as Epstein.

As lawmakers weigh next steps, both parties appear aware that any precedent set now could reverberate for years. What begins as an inquiry into one former president’s associations could reshape the boundaries of congressional oversight in the post-presidential sphere — and intensify the already high-stakes political climate heading into the next election cycle.

Bill Clinton’s closed-door deposition on Friday marked the first time a former US president had been compelled to testify before Congress.