A high-profile deposition tied to Congress’ Jeffrey Epstein investigation opened with sharp accusations from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said she was being used as a political diversion.
According to Fox News, Clinton told lawmakers the Republican-led House Oversight Committee had compelled her testimony despite her lack of direct knowledge about Epstein’s activities.
“A committee endeavoring to stop human trafficking would seek to understand what specific steps are needed to fix a system that allowed Epstein to get away with his crimes in 2008,” she said in her prepared remarks.
“But that’s not happening. Instead, 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 Donald Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.”
Clinton also said she had no personal connection to Epstein.
“I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that,” she said.
“Like every decent person, I have been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes. It’s unfathomable that Mr. Epstein initially got a slap on the wrist in 2008, which allowed him to continue his predatory practices for another decade.”
The deposition, held in Chappaqua, New York, was the result of months of negotiations between the committee and attorneys for the former first couple.
Lawmakers and staff from both parties traveled to question Clinton in person.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said ahead of the session that the panel was not accusing the Clintons of wrongdoing.
“No one’s accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing. They’re going to have due process,” Comer told reporters. “But we have a lot of questions, and the purpose of the whole investigation is to try to understand many things about Epstein.”
Comer said the questioning would cover Epstein’s connections to the Clinton Foundation and his relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, who attended Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding.
“Again, that’s not saying anything illegal, but there are a lot of questions pertaining to Secretary Clinton with respect to Epstein and his involvement in the Clinton initiative and her relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell,” he said.
Rep. Nancy Mace was slated to begin the lawmaker questioning, with members from both parties and their staff expected to participate.
Clinton’s testimony comes one day before former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear before the panel.
In her opening statement, Clinton accused the committee of pursuing a “fishing expedition.”
“If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press giggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement. It would ask him directly, under oath, about the tens of thousands of times who showed up in the Epstein files. If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done,” she said.
Neither the Clintons nor President Donald Trump have been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, though their names appear in documents alongside other public figures.
