Former President Bill Clinton is testifying Friday before the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door deposition tied to its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The session is taking place near the Clintons’ home in Chappaqua, New York — a day after Hillary appeared before the same panel.
Clinton is answering questions under oath as part of the bipartisan congressional probe. It marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before lawmakers against his will.
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The Justice Department’s latest Epstein-related files release shows Clinton flew on Epstein’s private plane multiple times in the early 2000s and appeared in photographs with him. Clinton has not accused him of any crimes, and a spokesperson said he ended contact before Epstein’s arrest in 2019.
The Clintons maintain they were unaware of any criminal activity.
Clinton’s opening statement
A few minutes after Friday’s hearing began, the former president shared his opening statement on X, saying he was there because “I love my country. And America was built upon the idea that no person is above the law, even Presidents — especially presidents.”
“The girls and women whose lives Jeffrey Epstein destroyed deserve not only justice, but healing,” Clinton said. “Thought my brief acquaintance with Epstein ended years before his crimes came to light, and though I never witnessed during our limited interactions any indication of what was truly going on, I am here to offer what little I know so that it might prevent anything like this from ever happening again.”
He continued by saying he needed to “get personal,” and reiterated what his wife said on Thursday, that she had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein.
“She neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties,” Clinton said.
He then went on to reiterate that he did not know and had nothing to do with Epstein’s crimes. He said no matter how many photos the committee may show him, he has the knowledge of what he saw and didn’t see; and what he did and didn’t do.
“I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong.”
What led to this?
The deposition follows months of negotiations between the Clintons and the committee. The couple had previously declined to appear for in-person questioning, saying they already provided sworn statements and relevant records.
In January, the Oversight panel voted to hold both in contempt of Congress for failing to testify. After further discussions with Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., the Clintons agreed to sit for depositions.
They had pushed for public testimony, but Republicans refused and insisted on closed-door depositions. The transcripts are expected to be released after review by the Clintons’ attorneys.
Hillary Clinton’s testimony
Hillary Clinton testified on Thursday, saying she had no knowledge of Epstein’s or Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes.
Shortly after the hearing began, Clinton posted her opening remarks on social media, writing that she never encountered Epstein.
She also criticized the committee’s investigation, calling it a distraction.
“You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers,” her remarks read.
Following the deposition, Clinton spoke to reporters, calling Thursday’s questioning “repetitive.”
“I don’t know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein. I never went to his island, I never went to his home, I never went to his offices,” she said.
Clinton added that by the end of the hearing, lawmakers were asking her random questions not related to Epstein.
