Clinton Deposition in Epstein Inquiry
Former President Bill Clinton arrived in Chappaqua, New York, for a deposition related to the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operations. This visit followed testimony from his wife, Hillary Clinton, who testified to the committee just a day earlier.
In a public statement prior to the deposition, Clinton echoed sentiments shared by his wife during her six-hour closed deposition. He expressed his love for the country and emphasized that “no one is above the law,” even presidents. Clinton stated he was there to help bring the nation back to a place of civil discourse, claiming this was a key motivation for his appearance.
“The second reason I’m here is because the girls and women whose lives Jeffrey Epstein destroyed deserve not only justice but healing,” he remarked.
Clinton attempted to distance himself from Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently incarcerated. He stated that his brief association with Epstein occurred long before any of the latter’s criminal activity became public, claiming, “I never witnessed what was actually going on during our limited interactions.” He made it clear that he aims to provide any information that may help prevent similar situations in the future.
“I had no knowledge of the crimes committed by Epstein,” he stated.
Clinton also indicated that the significance of knowing what one witnessed or didn’t witness outweighs the implications of any old photographs that might surface. He underscored his position with a firm, “I didn’t see anything and I didn’t do anything wrong.”
He mentioned that had he been aware of Epstein’s actions, he would have immediately turned him in, reinforcing that he never encountered red flags during his past interactions. Clinton noted, “We’re here because he hid it well from everyone for so long.”
Throughout the deposition, he cautioned that his responses might not please everyone, stating he would often say, “I don’t remember.” He emphasized his commitment to truth, expressing, “I’m not going to say anything I’m not sure about. This was a long time ago.”
Critics were quick to draw attention to Clinton’s past, recalling his impeachment for perjury and obstruction of justice in 1998, which stemmed from his efforts to conceal an affair with Monica Lewinsky.
He also criticized the committee for summoning Hillary, asserting she had no connection to Epstein, emphasizing her lack of even a casual meeting with him. Clinton reiterated her earlier remarks, affirming, “I never met Epstein and never had any connection or communication.” However, she acknowledged knowing Maxwell casually.
Documents released by the Department of Justice include references to Clinton and an email sent to Epstein during the midterm elections, hinting at the political dynamics at play. One alleged message stated, “I know you’re close to Hillary, but if she wins the nomination and you vote for her, I’ll kill you.”
Initially, the Clintons rejected the subpoena, accusing the Republican-led committee of performing political theater. Notably, Clinton’s appearance marks the first time in 40 years that a president has been questioned by Congress since Gerald Ford in 1983, as well as the first instance of a former president being subpoenaed to testify.
