Former US President Bill Clinton told members of Congress on Friday that he “did nothing wrong” in his relationship with late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Questioned for hours by lawmakers over his links to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago, he said he saw no signs of Epstein’s sexual abuse.
“I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” the former president said in an opening statement he posted on social media at the start of the deposition.
Bill Clinton testifies in Epstein probe
The deposition in New York’s Chappaqua is the first time a former president has been required to give testimony before Congress. It took place a day after Clinton’s wife, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, appeared before lawmakers for her own deposition.
In a prepared statement, Clinton told the House of Representatives Oversight Committee he would never have travelled on the late financier’s plane had he known of the alleged trafficking of underage girls, and said he would have reported him if he had known.
“We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long,” Clinton said.
Clinton said he had “no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing” and called their connection a “brief acquaintance” that ended years before Epstein’s actions became public.
James Comer, the Republican chair leading the House panel inquiry into Epstein, said before Clinton’s testimony that he was eager to “ask lots of questions.” Meanwhile, Democrats on the committee reiterated their demand that US President Donald Trump be questioned as well.
Clinton did not mention Trump by name but said “no person is above the law, even presidents — especially presidents.”
Hillary Clinton’s testimony targets Trump
Clinton’s appearance before Congress comes after a testimony from his wife, Hillary Clinton, who said she knew nothing about Jeffrey Epstein’s or Ghislaine Maxwell’s offences.
“I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr Epstein,” she said in an opening statement she posted on social media. The private deposition ended on Thursday after more than six hours, during which she reportedly responded to every question.
She also accused the Republican-led panel of attempting to divert attention from Trump’s links to Epstein.
“This institutional failure is designed to protect one political party and one public official, rather than to seek truth and justice for the victims and survivors, as well as the public who also want to get to the bottom of this matter. My heart breaks for the survivors. And I am furious on their behalf,” she said.
With inputs from agencies
