Former US President Bill Clinton told lawmakers on Friday that he was unaware of any criminal conduct by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and would not have associated with him had he known about the abuse, news agency Reuters reported. Testifying behind closed doors before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee, Clinton firmly denied any wrongdoing.
“I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn’t do. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” Clinton said in his prepared opening statement to the House of Representatives Oversight Committee.
The former Democratic president appeared before the Republican-led panel as part of its ongoing inquiry into Epstein’s connections with prominent political and business figures.
His testimony comes amid heightened partisan tensions, with Republicans pressing for answers about his past ties to Epstein and Democrats accusing the panel of political motivations.
Clinton acknowledged that he flew on Epstein’s private jet multiple times in the early 2000s after leaving office.
Recently released Justice Department documents include photographs of him with women whose identities have been redacted.
He has repeatedly denied any improper conduct and previously expressed regret over maintaining an association with Epstein.
His wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, testified before the same committee a day earlier. She told lawmakers that she did not recall ever meeting Epstein and had no information about his crimes.
She also said she was questioned during the seven-hour session about UFOs and a conspiracy theory dating back to 2016.
Committee Chairman James Comer said ahead of Bill Clinton’s appearance that he intended to question the former president about the released photographs and about Epstein’s alleged connections to the Clintons’ charitable foundation.
Comer has maintained that neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of criminal wrongdoing. He added that video footage of Hillary Clinton’s testimony could be made public as early as Friday.
According to a Reuters report, the Clintons agreed to testify near their residence in Chappaqua, New York, after the House threatened contempt proceedings if they declined to cooperate.
Some Democrats supported their decision to appear, though they have criticised the inquiry’s scope and direction.
Democrats argue that the committee should also compel testimony from President Donald Trump, whose name appears in Epstein-related records.
Trump had socialised with Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s, prior to Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Authorities have not accused Trump of criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Democratic Representative James Walkinshaw criticised the focus on Clinton, stating, “President Clinton’s presence here today under oath highlights the Donald Trump-sized gaping hole in Chairman Comer’s investigation”.
Meanwhile, Democrats have also alleged that the Justice Department is withholding records related to an accusation against Trump.
The department has said it is reviewing the materials and will release them if appropriate, while cautioning that previously disclosed files include unverified and sensational claims.
Clinton’s testimony marks another chapter in the long-running scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s network, as political divisions continue to shape the congressional inquiry.
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
