Former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton is due to testify before the U.S. Congress on Thursday, relating to the scandal surrounding sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Initially, Ms Clinton, 78, is expected to testify under oath on Thursday, before her husband and former President Bill Clinton, 79, is questioned on Friday.

According to US media, they will be questioned not in Congress in Washington, but via video link.

These are expected to be closed sessions, so it is unclear how much information will be made public.

The couple refused for months to testify before the U.S. Congress in the investigation of the Epstein case.

The Democrats accused the Republican chairman of the relevant House oversight committee, James Comer, of conducting a politically motivated process.

According to U.S. media reports, their agreement to testify in early February led to the Republicans cancelling a vote on a contempt of Congress procedure against the Clintons.

Mr Clinton’s name and pictures of him appear in documents related to the Epstein investigations.

However, a mention in itself means nothing.

The former president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with his acquaintance with Mr Epstein.

Mr Epstein operated an abuse ring for years, victimising dozens of young women and minors.

The New York financier had excellent connections in U.S. high society.

He died in his prison cell in 2019, before a conviction could have been reached. 

(dpa/NAN)