Hillary Clinton Testifies She Has No Information On Epstein's Crimes And Doesn't Recall Meeting Him

WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told U.S. House lawmakers connected Thursday that she had nary knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s aliases Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes astatine nan commencement of 2 days of depositions that will besides see erstwhile President Clinton.

“I had nary thought astir their criminal activities. I do not callback ever encountering Mr. Epstein,” Hillary Clinton said successful an opening connection she shared connected societal media.

The closed-door depositions successful nan Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, a typically quiet hamlet northbound of New York City, travel aft months of tense back-and-forth betwixt nan erstwhile high-powered Democratic mates and nan Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. It will beryllium nan first clip that a erstwhile president has been forced to attest earlier Congress.

Yet nan request for a reckoning complete Epstein’s maltreatment of underage girls has go a near-unstoppable unit connected Capitol Hill and beyond.

President Trump, a Republican who has expressed regret that nan Clintons are being forced to testify, bowed past twelvemonth to unit to merchandise lawsuit files connected Epstein, who killed himself successful a New York jailhouse compartment successful 2019 while awaiting trial. The Clintons, too, agreed to attest aft their offers of sworn statements were rebuffed by nan Oversight sheet and its chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., threatened criminal contempt of Congress charges against them.

“We person a very clear grounds that we’ve been consenting to talk about,” Hillary Clinton said successful an question and reply pinch nan BBC earlier this month. She added that her hubby had flown pinch Epstein for charitable trips and that she did not callback gathering Epstein but had interacted pinch Maxwell, Epstein’s erstwhile woman and confidant, astatine conferences hosted by nan Clinton Foundation.

Maxwell, a British socialite, besides attended nan 2010 wedding of their daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

“We are much than happy to opportunity what we know, which is very constricted and wholly unrelated to their behaviour aliases their crimes, and we want to do it successful public,” Hillary Clinton said.

Bill Clinton, however, has emerged arsenic a apical target for Republicans amid nan governmental struggle complete who receives nan astir scrutiny for their ties to Epstein. Several photos of nan erstwhile president were included successful nan first tranche of Epstein files released by nan Department of Justice successful January, including a number of him pinch women whose faces were redacted. Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing successful his narration pinch Epstein.

Comer has besides pointed to Hillary Clinton’s activity arsenic caput of authorities to reside activity trafficking arsenic different logic to insist connected her deposition. The committee’s investigation has sought to understand why nan Department of Justice nether erstwhile statesmanlike administrations did not activity further charges against Epstein pursuing a 2008 statement successful which he pleaded blameworthy to authorities charges successful Florida for soliciting adultery from an underage woman but avoided national charges.

Yet conspiracy theories, particularly connected nan right, person swirled for years astir nan Clintons and their connections to Epstein and Maxwell, who argues she was wrongfully convicted. Republicans person agelong wanted to property nan Clintons for answers.

“I mean if you’re nan woman of Bill Clinton, aren’t you going to person immoderate questions astir your husband’s activities?” said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., a personnel of nan House Oversight Committee. “We only spell wherever nan facts return us. We didn’t put nan president and nan caput successful this position. They put themselves successful it.”

Democrats, now being led by a caller procreation of politicians, person prioritized transparency astir Epstein complete defending nan erstwhile leaders of their party. Several Democratic lawmakers joined pinch Republicans connected nan Oversight sheet to beforehand nan contempt of Congress charges against nan Clintons past month. Several said they had nary narration pinch nan Clintons and owed nary loyalty to them.

Rep. Robert Garcia of California, nan apical Democrat connected nan Oversight panel, said that some Republican and Democratic administrations “have grounded survivors successful not getting much accusation retired to nan public.” He besides said he wanted to inquire astir Epstein’s imaginable ties to overseas governments.

Democrats are besides coming disconnected an effort this week to face Trump astir his administration’s handling of nan Epstein files by taking women who survived Epstein’s maltreatment arsenic their guests to Trump’s State of nan Union address. Even elder Democrats, specified arsenic erstwhile Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, said it was due for nan committee to question and reply anyone, including nan erstwhile president, who was connected to Epstein.

“We want to perceive from everyone,” Pelosi said, adding that she did not spot why Hillary Clinton was being interviewed and that it was important to “believe survivors.”

Groves writes for nan Associated Press.