Hillary versus the Hill

Hello readers and welcome to another On Politics. Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY's congressional reporter, here, in for Kathryn Palmer. Here's the latest news in politics for today.

Hillary Clinton pushes for a public hearing on Jeffrey Epstein

Longtime Donald Trump rival Hillary Clinton will testify before lawmakers as soon as this month to face questions about her husband's past ties with Jeffrey Epstein.

After a drawn-out feud between the Democratic duo's lawyers and the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee, the Clintons agreed to videotaped depositions on Feb. 26 and 27 as part of the panel's inquiry into the accused sex trafficker, who died in 2019. Though former President Bill Clinton was photographed many times with the disgraced wealth manager, he and the former second lady have denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

On Feb. 5, Hillary upped the drama, saying she'd publicly testify on Capitol Hill in the probe.

"You love to talk about transparency," she wrote on social media, tagging Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican and the chair of the oversight committee. "There’s nothing more transparent than a public hearing, cameras on."

A politics roundup:

• Trump expands his power to hire and fire 50,000 federal workers
• Who has Trump endorsed in Georgia? Candidate for MTG's seat gets stamp
• Poll shows 65% of Americans think immigration enforcement has gone too far
• Suspect in fatal shooting of diplomats from Israeli embassy charged with terrorism

Gallery: Inside Epstein's homes: See odd items that raise more questions than answers

Thune: DHS reform talks to continue through weekend

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said negotiations among lawmakers and the White House over reforming the Department of Homeland Security since the killing of Alex Pretti would continue over the weekend. Speaking to reporters as he left the Capitol on Feb. 5, Thune said he hoped lawmakers would have a better sense of where things could land by next week. The agency faces a Friday, Feb. 13, deadline before the government could partially shut down again, affecting air traffic controllers and the Coast Guard. Democrats released a list of 10 demands – up from three last week – for improving immigration enforcement. Republican leaders have said many of those are nonstarters.

Will that warehouse become an ICE detention center? Locals push back.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has purchased, toured or attempted to buy at least a dozen commercial buildings since December in states including Texas, Mississippi, New York and Oregon, USA TODAY has found. Court records and other disclosures show sales ranging from tens of millions to more than $100 million per warehouse. But in some cases, public outrage has led deals to collapse as local politicians from both parties have sided with concerned community residents.

Read more from USA TODAY's Chris Cann.

Thanks for reading! Scroll down for more politics stories. You can reach me at [email protected]. Follow me on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.