Bill Clinton defends Epstein ties in congressional testimony
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton told lawmakers Friday he “did nothing wrong” in his relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, and maintained he was unaware of Epstein’s sexual abuse, during hours of questioning by a House committee. The deposition, held in Chappaqua, New York, marks the first time a current or former president has testified before Congress in over 40 years, according to reports.
Clinton’s testimony comes a day after his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also appeared before the panel as part of the investigation into Epstein’s decades-long sex trafficking operation. Hillary Clinton stated she had no knowledge of Epstein’s abuse and did not recall meeting him.
Lawmakers are examining the extent to which powerful individuals associated with Epstein were aware of his crimes. Republican Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, stated before the deposition that the committee aims to understand accountability for those connected to Epstein, noting that many high-profile figures have faced scrutiny for maintaining ties with him even after his 2008 guilty plea in Florida.
While Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing, the committee is focused on a well-documented relationship spanning the late 1990s and early 2000s, including travel records showing Clinton flew on Epstein’s airplane 27 times and that Epstein visited the White House 17 times during Clinton’s presidency. Photos released by the Justice Department late last year, depicting Clinton with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, further fueled scrutiny.
Clinton has consistently maintained limited knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. His wife echoed this sentiment, stating she believes the chronology of their connection ended before details of Epstein’s crimes surfaced.
The investigation has also broadened to include scrutiny of others with ties to Epstein. Democrats on the committee are calling for President Donald Trump to testify, citing his own relationship with Epstein. Rep. Robert Garcia urged Trump to “man up” and answer questions, dismissing claims of a politically motivated investigation.
Additionally, calls are growing for the resignation of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a former neighbor of Epstein’s, after reports surfaced contradicting his previous statements about severing ties with Epstein. Rep. Nancy Mace questioned Hillary Clinton about Lutnick’s connections during her deposition, and several lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna, believe they have the votes to subpoena him.
The release of Epstein-related case files has intensified public interest in the matter, prompting a broader examination of how individuals with power and wealth have avoided accountability for alleged crimes.