Bill Clinton appeared before the House Oversight Committee in Westchester County, New York, to testify about his past association with late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Clinton firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating he “saw nothing that gave me pause” during his interactions with Epstein.
In a prepared statement, Clinton told lawmakers he would never have flown on Epstein’s plane or engaged with him had he known about the alleged sex trafficking of minors. “We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long,” Clinton said.
The former president flew on Epstein’s plane several times in the early 2000s, after leaving office and before Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Documents recently released by the Department of Justice included photos of Clinton with women, though faces were redacted.
“I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” Clinton reiterated during his closed-door deposition.
Context: Hillary Clinton testifies one day earlier
Clinton’s deposition came a day after Hillary Clinton testified before the same committee. Both agreed to appear following threats of congressional contempt, which could have led to criminal charges.
The committee, chaired by Republican Representative James Comer of Kentucky, is examining Epstein’s links to the Clintons and possible connections to their charitable foundation. Comer indicated he would question Bill Clinton about the released photos.
Partisan tensions
Democrats have criticized the committee’s approach, calling it partisan and designed to shield former President Donald Trump. They have urged that Trump, whose name appears in Epstein-related documents, also be subpoenaed.
Trump, who socialized with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s, broke ties before Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Speaking on Friday, Trump expressed displeasure over Clinton’s deposition, saying, “I like Bill Clinton, and I don’t like seeing him deposed.”
Democrats have also raised concerns that the Justice Department withheld records related to allegations of sexual misconduct against Trump from his younger years, though the department stated it is reviewing the material for potential release.
