Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are in a standoff with House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., over testimony the panel is seeking in its investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The dispute is over the format of the Clintons’ testimony to lawmakers. The Clintons’ legal team wrote a letter to Comer on Tuesday offering their public testimony before the committee at two hearings this month, according to parts of the letter shared with NBC News.

The former secretary of state offered to testify before the panel on Feb. 26, and the former president offered to testify on Feb. 27, according to the letter. A Clinton spokesman and House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia, D-Calif., confirmed the dates. While the letter said they would be available for depositions on those dates, it made it clear that they would prefer to testify in an open hearing.

“Though you have notably never asked the Clintons to appear in an open hearing, we now believe that will best suit our concerns about fairness,” the letter said. “Their answers, and your questions, can be seen by all to be judged accordingly.”

After the Clintons told Comer they would testify publicly, however, he announced in a statement Tuesday that the two had agreed to appear for transcribed, recorded depositions this month. Depositions are conducted behind closed doors.

“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,” Comer said Tuesday. “Maxwell” is Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.