Bill Clinton Slams Republicans: ‘I Won’t Be Your Prop’

Bill Clinton is pushing back hard against House Republicans as the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein barrels forward under President Donald Trump’s second term.

In a sharply worded public statement, the former president accused GOP lawmakers of turning the Epstein probe into what he called “partisan theater,” arguing that closed-door depositions serve politics—not the public.

Clinton is now demanding a public hearing.

The dispute centers on the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Republicans leading the probe have opted for private depositions rather than televised hearings, a decision Clinton says undermines transparency.

“I won’t be your prop,” Clinton wrote in a series of posts on X. “I’ve called for the full release of the Epstein files. I’ve provided a sworn statement. I’ve agreed to appear in person. Yet Republicans insist on a closed-door process that shuts out the American people.”

Clinton said he will not participate quietly in what he described as a “kangaroo court,” accusing Republicans of weaponizing the investigation during a highly polarized moment in Washington.

“If they want answers, let’s stop the games,” he wrote. “Do this in public. Let Americans see what this is really about.”

The former president’s comments come as Epstein’s name once again dominates political headlines in 2026, with renewed scrutiny over powerful figures who crossed paths with him. Flight logs show Clinton traveled on Epstein’s private plane multiple times in the early 2000s. Clinton has repeatedly said those trips were connected to humanitarian work and that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.

Neither Clinton nor his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has been accused of wrongdoing. No Epstein survivor has publicly alleged misconduct by either of them.

Hillary Clinton has echoed her husband’s call for openness. Earlier this week, she also urged lawmakers to hold public hearings, arguing that transparency is the only way to ensure fairness and public trust.

Despite those demands, the House Oversight Committee has moved forward with depositions. Chairman James Comer confirmed that Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify on February 26, followed by Bill Clinton on February 27. The committee has warned both Clintons that failure to comply with subpoenas could result in contempt proceedings.

In a letter to Comer, the Clintons’ attorney said an open hearing would best address concerns about fairness, while leaving the final decision to the committee.

Comer has defended the process, saying the depositions will be videotaped and that transcripts and recordings will be released publicly. He has also suggested the Clintons could testify in a public hearing later if they choose.

Bill Clinton rejected that offer outright.

“Who benefits from this setup?” he asked. “Not Epstein’s victims, who deserve justice. Not the public, who deserve the truth. It serves only partisan interests. This is politics, not fact-finding.”

The controversy has also drawn commentary from President Donald Trump, who expressed frustration with the committee’s focus on the Clintons.

“It bothers me that somebody is going after Bill Clinton,” Trump told NBC News. “I like Bill Clinton. I still do.”

As the Epstein investigation accelerates in a divided Washington, Democrats warn that the push for secrecy risks turning one of the darkest scandals in modern American history into a political spectacle—rather than a genuine search for accountability.