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Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to provide testimony later this month as part of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following weeks of tension between the former first couple and Republican lawmakers.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer confirmed that Hillary Clinton will appear on Feb. 26, followed by Bill Clinton on Feb. 27.  Comer said in a statement: “The Clintons completely caved and will appear for transcribed, filmed depositions this month. 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.” 

The testimony will take place in the form of transcribed, videotaped depositions, which are typically conducted behind closed doors (Republican aides insist the proceedings will not be open to the public). A location for the depositions has not yet been finalized, as the Clintons have requested New York City.

The standoff followed months of back-and-forth — the committee initially requested testimony last fall, later postponing dates into December and January, which the Clintons declined. After those refusals, the panel advanced bipartisan contempt resolutions, with some Democrats joining Republicans in support.

The format, however, of the Clintons testimony remains disputed. Clinton spokesperson Nick Merrill pushed back publicly, saying, “At the 11th hour, James Comer asked for a camera, that’s fine. He can have 1,000 cameras. The Clintons will do this publicly.” Another spokesperson, Angel Ureña, echoed that position, accusing Comer of bad faith negotiations and adding, “They negotiated in good faith. You did not. They told you under oath what they know, but you don’t care. But the former President and former Secretary of State will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.”

The agreement came just as the House was preparing to vote on holding both Clintons in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with subpoenas. Those proceedings have been paused, though Comer emphasized that contempt “is still on the table” if the couple fails to appear. “This will be their third date that we’ve given the Clintons and three strikes, and you’re out,” he said.

In written declarations submitted earlier this year, both Clintons denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. Bill Clinton acknowledged flying on Epstein’s plane during philanthropic trips tied to the Clinton Foundation in the early 2000s but said he never visited Epstein’s private island and had not been in contact with him for more than a decade before Epstein’s 2019 arrest. Hillary Clinton stated she did not recall any meaningful interaction with Epstein and said she never traveled with him. Their declarations said: “To be clear, I had no idea of Mr. Epstein’s or Ms. Maxwell’s criminal activities. And, irrespective of any intent either may have ever had, I did not take any action for the purpose of helping them to avoid any type of scrutiny.”

Neither Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing, and no Epstein survivor or associate has publicly alleged misconduct by either. The upcoming testimony is expected to mark a significant moment in the Oversight Committee’s investigation, even as disagreements continue over how transparent the process should be.

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The House narrowly approved a sweeping spending package Tuesday to bring an end to the partial government shutdown, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump, who has said he will sign it without delay. The bill passed by a 217–214 vote after a tense day of negotiations and procedural hurdles.

Speaker Mike Johnson faced a razor-thin margin and could afford to lose only one Republican vote. The procedural vote to advance the bill was delayed and held open for nearly 45 minutes as GOP leaders worked to win over holdouts, including Rep. John Rose of Tennessee, who briefly opposed the measure over frustrations that the Senate had not acted on the SAVE Act, a proposal requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Rose ultimately reversed his vote, allowing the bill to move forward.  Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, voted against the final package, despite some members quietly supporting it. Jeffries had earlier made clear Democrats would not help fast-track the bill, saying his caucus held “a variety of perspectives.”

The legislation restores funding for most federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, including the Pentagon and the Departments of Education, Treasury, Labor, and State. However, funding for the Department of Homeland Security is only extended for two weeks, setting a new deadline of Feb. 13 and triggering a high-stakes negotiation over immigration enforcement policy.

Democrats are using the short-term DHS extension to press for changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection operations, following the fatal shooting of two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during a federal law enforcement incident in Minneapolis. The incident sparked national outrage and intensified calls for reform.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the top Democratic negotiator on funding, supported the bill, arguing that separating DHS allowed Congress to protect broad bipartisan agreements on other agencies while zeroing in on immigration enforcement issues. “I believe this is an opportunity to isolate DHS and go at it, hammer and tongs, tooth and nail — whatever phrase you want to use,” she said, adding that lawmakers should now focus exclusively on DHS over the next 10 days.

The Senate passed the same package last Friday by a wide 71–29 margin, and President Trump helped push it through the House by urging Republicans to back the bill as written. In a message to GOP holdouts earlier in the week, Trump warned, “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”

The agreement separating DHS from the other funding bills was negotiated by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the White House. While DHS agencies such as TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and Customs and Border Protection would be affected by a lapse in funding, ICE operations would continue regardless, after receiving $75 billion through the previously passed “Big Beautiful Bill.” Securing a longer-term DHS agreement remains uncertain. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., warned that deep divisions remain. “There are vast differences,” he said, predicting Congress may need another short-term extension, potentially pushing the deadline into March.

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Arizona authorities say the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, is being investigated as a possible abduction, after concerning evidence was found at her home near Tucson.

Investigators do not believe Nancy Guthrie left her home willingly and believe that she was abducted in her sleep early Sunday morning,  according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office. Guthrie was last seen in the Catalina Foothills area on Saturday night, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Her family reported her missing on Sunday around noon local time, authorities said.

Investigators do not believe Nancy Guthrie left her home willingly and that she was abducted in her sleep early Sunday morning, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night at her residence in the Catalina Foothills area, where she lives alone. Family members reported her missing around midday Sunday after learning she had not attended church. Deputies processed the home later that day and determined it should be treated as a crime scene.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators believe she did not leave voluntarily. “She did not leave on her own. We know that,” Nanos said during a Monday briefing. He added, “We do in fact have a crime scene. We do in fact have a crime.” Officials declined to share specific details about what raised alarms at the home, but said the circumstances were suspicious enough to involve the department’s homicide team. The FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are also assisting.

Authorities said Nancy Guthrie has limited mobility and relies on daily medication that, if missed for more than 24 hours, “it could be fatal,” according to Nanos. Investigators emphasized that her disappearance is not related to cognitive decline. “This is not dementia related. She’s as sharp as a tack. The family wants everyone to know that this isn’t someone who just wandered off,” Nanos said.

Search and rescue crews, supported by drones, aircraft, search dogs, and volunteers, scoured the area late into Sunday night but found no sign of her. By Monday, officials scaled back those efforts, shifting their focus fully to the investigation. “Right now, we don’t see this as a search mission as much as we do a crime scene,” Nanos said. Deputies are reviewing security footage from the home and nearby residences and have recovered Nancy Guthrie’s cellphone. Neighbors were urged to check home surveillance systems for anything unusual.

Authorities said there is no indication the public is in danger and that they are not aware of any threats toward Savannah Guthrie. The sheriff’s office confirmed it has been in contact with her security team, and Nanos said Savannah Guthrie is currently in Arizona.

On Monday’s broadcast of the “Today” show, co-anchor Craig Melvin shared a statement from the family. “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” Savannah Guthrie said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom.  We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.” Sheriff Nanos echoed that appeal to the public, saying, “I need this community to step up and start giving us some calls.”

Savannah Guthrie later posted on Instagram: “we believe in prayer. we believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. we believe in goodness. we believe in humanity. above all, we believe in Him. thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. we need you. “He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” a verse of Isaiah for all time for all of us. Bring her home.”

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President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States and India have finalized a new trade deal that lowers tariffs on Indian imports and reshapes India’s energy purchases, following a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Under the deal, the U.S. will reduce its reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, while India has agreed to cut its tariffs and non-tariff barriers on American products to zero. Trump said the agreement also includes a major commitment from India to significantly increase purchases of U.S. goods, totaling more than $500 billion across sectors such as energy, technology, agriculture, and coal.

A central element of the deal involves energy imports. Trump said Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead source more crude from the United States and “potentially” Venezuela. India has been one of Russia’s largest oil customers during the war in Ukraine, importing roughly 1.5 million barrels per day, according to global trade data. Trump framed the shift as a step that could help pressure Moscow and contribute to ending the conflict.

Trump referred to Modi as “one of my greatest friends” and said India also plans to invest in American products “at a much higher level” beyond the $500 billion commitment. The President wrote on Truth Social: “He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela. This will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week! Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25% to 18%. They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO.”

While Trump did not specify how quickly India could replace Russian oil, analysts note that Venezuela’s oil sector would require significant investment to substantially increase output. The White House also did not clarify whether additional penalties tied to Russian oil purchases would remain in effect during the transition.

Although India is not among the United States’ top trading partners, the deal could still have a notable impact. In 2025, the U.S. imported $95.5 billion in goods from India and exported $42 billion worth of products to the country, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Modi later confirmed the agreement and welcomed the reduced tariffs: “Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%  Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement. When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.”

The announcement comes shortly after India finalized a separate trade agreement with the European Union, underscoring New Delhi’s broader push to expand global trade ties amid shifting geopolitical and economic pressures.

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Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, are back in Minnesota after a federal judge ordered their release from an immigration detention center in Texas, ending a case that sparked national outrage and drew sharp criticism of federal immigration enforcement tactics.

Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro posted on social media that he picked up the father and son from the Texas facility Saturday night and accompanied them back to Minnesota early Sunday. Castro wrote, “Five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.  Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack. Thank you to everyone who demanded freedom for Liam. We won’t stop until all children and families are home.”  A spokesperson for Castro said the pair arrived home safely, reuniting Liam with his mother and younger brother.

Castro also shared a handwritten letter he gave the child during their flight back, telling Liam that he had “moved the world.” In the letter, Castro wrote, “Your family, school and many strangers said prayers for you and offered whatever they could do to see you back home. Don’t let anyone tell you this isn’t your home. America became the most powerful, prosperous nation on earth because of immigrants not in spite of them.” Minnesota Democrats also welcomed the family home, with Rep. Ilhan Omar posting a photo with Liam, his father and Castro, writing, “Welcome home Liam,” alongside two heart emojis.

Liam and his father — an asylum seeker from Ecuador — were taken into custody on Jan. 20 in a Minneapolis suburb shortly after returning home from the boy’s preschool. They were later transferred to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas, despite having an active asylum case and no deportation order. Images of Liam wearing a blue bunny hat and carrying a Spider-Man backpack while surrounded by immigration officers quickly went viral, fueling protests and drawing condemnation from elected officials and advocates across the country. During a visit to the detention center, Castro said Liam was struggling emotionally and physically.

The Department of Homeland Security disputed claims that Liam was targeted, saying ICE conducted a “targeted operation” to arrest his father. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the child was not arrested and accused Conejo Arias of fleeing and leaving his son behind. She also said officers attempted to place Liam with his “alleged mother,” who she claimed refused custody, and stated that Conejo Arias requested his son remain with him. McLaughlin said in a statement, “The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law and common sense to our immigration system, and will continue to fight for the arrest, detention, and removal of aliens who have no right to be in this country.”

In a court order granting their release, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery sharply rebuked the federal government, writing, “The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children. Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency, and the rule of law be damned.” While Judge Biery acknowledged the family could still face removal in the future, he said any outcome should come “through a more orderly and humane policy than currently in place.”

Conejo Arias told ABC News during the flight home to Minnesota that “I’m happy to finally be going home,” adding that Liam was also excited to reunite with his family. He described conditions inside the Texas facility as poor and said his son became ill, and was denied medication. He emphasized that his family entered the U.S. legally in 2023 using the CBP One app, attended all required hearings, and posed no flight risk. Conejo Arias said he hopes to remain in the US, explaining that his family fled Ecuador out of fear. “I asked for asylum to be be here for my family, for my children. I’m here because I’m scared of returning to my country.” Conejo Arias’ first immigration court hearing is scheduled for later this month.

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