Clinton Claims House Committee Aims to Distract Trump
Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, has accused the Republican-led House Oversight Committee of using her testimony as a ploy to divert attention from President Donald Trump while they investigate Jeffrey Epstein.
In her initial remarks, Clinton expressed that the committee should be focusing on addressing human trafficking and exploring actionable steps to prevent future offenders like Epstein from evading justice, particularly highlighting the issues stemming from 2008.
Instead, she stated, “you coerced me into testifying, fully aware that I couldn’t contribute anything meaningful to your inquiry, all to distract from President Trump’s actions and obscure his genuine requests for answers.”
Clinton asserted to lawmakers that she is unaware of Epstein’s illegal activities and clarified that she has never flown on the controversial “Lolita Express” plane associated with Epstein.
Deposition sessions for the Oversight Committee are set to commence Thursday morning, following extensive discussions leading up to this point.
James Comer, the committee’s chairman from Kentucky, indicated to reporters prior to the sessions, “At this juncture, no one is claiming that the Clintons did anything wrong. They will undergo due process.” He added that there are numerous inquiries aimed at shedding light on various aspects of Epstein’s case.
Hillary Clinton’s deposition is scheduled for the day before her husband, Bill Clinton, is also expected to provide testimony to the committee.
Comer remarked, “I anticipate today’s deposition will be lengthy, and tomorrow’s will likely be even longer.”
Both Democratic and Republican members, along with their staff, have traveled to the Clintons’ residence in Chappaqua, New York, for this two-day session. This arrangement stems from an agreement between the Republican-led committee and the Clintons’ legal team to hold in-person testimonies.
Lawmakers, along with staff, will have the chance to question Hillary Clinton. Reportedly, Rep. Nancy Mace from South Carolina, a former first lady, will be the first to interrogate her.
Last year, Mace was part of a group of four House Republicans who advocated for a bill mandating the Department of Justice to release documents concerning Epstein, managing to do so despite opposition from GOP leaders.
A South Carolina Republican running for governor announced plans to question Clinton about individuals linked to Epstein, including Trump’s former Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick.
Comer indicated that there would also be questions about relations with Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, notably citing that she attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding in 2010, which came after initial allegations against Epstein surfaced.
He also hinted at a review of Epstein’s connections with the Clinton Foundation. “Once more, we are not asserting that Hillary Clinton acted improperly. But there’s a great deal of intrigue surrounding Secretary Clinton regarding Epstein’s involvement with the Clinton Initiative and her ties to Ghislaine Maxwell,” Comer stated, suggesting that Epstein himself had publicly noted his fundraising efforts for the Clinton Foundation.
