WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton told lawmakers on Friday that he “did nothing wrong” in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no indications of Epstein’s sexual abuse as he faced hours of questioning about his ties to the disgraced financier dating back over two decades.
“I saw nothing and did nothing wrong,” the former Democratic president stated in an opening declaration shared on social media at the beginning of the session.
The closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before Congress. It occurred one day after Clinton’s wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, appeared before lawmakers for her own deposition.
Bill Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing. However, lawmakers are grappling with the question of international accountability at a time when men around the world have been ousted from high positions for maintaining ties with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
“Men—and women, for that matter—of great power and great wealth from all over the world have been able to get away with many atrocious crimes and have not been held accountable and haven’t even had to answer questions,” said Representative James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, before Clinton’s deposition began.
Hillary Clinton told lawmakers on Thursday that she was unaware of how Epstein sexually abused young girls and did not even recall meeting him. Bill Clinton, however, was required to answer questions about a well-documented relationship with Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s.
In his opening statement, Bill Clinton noted that he would likely tell the committee he did not recall specific details of events that occurred more than 20 years ago, but similarly expressed certainty that he did not witness signs of Epstein’s abuse.
During a recess after two hours of questioning, Democratic lawmakers said Bill Clinton attempted to answer every question and did not invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Republicans, however, relished the opportunity to examine the former president under oath.
“Nobody is accusing anybody of wrongdoing, but I reckon the American people have a lot of questions,” Comer commented.
Republicans Finally Get Opportunity to Question Bill Clinton
Republicans have sought to question Bill Clinton about Epstein for years, particularly as conspiracy theories emerged following Epstein’s 2019 suicide in a New York jail while facing sex trafficking charges.
Those calls peaked late last year when several photos of the former president appeared in the Justice Department’s initial release of case files regarding Epstein and Maxwell, a British socialite who was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021 but maintains her innocence. Clinton was photographed on an airplane seated next to a woman, whose face is redacted, with his arm around her. Another photo showed Clinton and Maxwell at a pool with another person whose face was redacted.
Epstein also visited the White House several times during Clinton’s presidency, and the two later took multiple international trips together for charitable operate. Comer alleged the committee has evidence that Epstein visited the White House 17 times and that Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane 27 times.
Democratic lawmakers said they also asked Clinton tough questions about his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.
“We’re only here due to the fact that he hid it from everyone so well for so long,” Clinton stated in his opening declaration. “And by the time it came to light with his guilty plea in 2008, I had long since stopped having anything to do with him.”
Comer committed to thoroughly questioning the former president, noting that Hillary Clinton had repeatedly delegated questions about Epstein to her husband.
Bill Clinton criticized Comer for calling his wife to testify, telling him that “including her was just not right.”
The committee is working to quickly release a transcript and video recording of her deposition.
A Precedent Has Been Set?
Democrats, who have supported the push for Bill Clinton to provide answers, argue that this sets a precedent that should also apply to President Donald Trump, a Republican who had his own relationship with Epstein.
“I think President Trump needs to come forward, come before this committee and answer the questions, and stop saying this investigation is a witch hunt,” said Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee.
Comer rejected that idea, noting that Trump has answered questions from the press about Epstein.
Trump expressed regret on Friday that Bill Clinton was being forced to testify. “I like Bill Clinton, and I don’t like seeing him forced to testify,” he told reporters as he departed the White House for Corpus Christi, Texas.
Democrats are also calling for the resignation of Trump’s Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick. He was a long-time neighbor of Epstein in New York City, but said in a podcast that he cut ties with Epstein after a tour of Epstein’s home in 2005 that was disturbing to Lutnick and his wife.
The release of the case files showed that Lutnick actually had two encounters with Epstein years later, attending an event at Epstein’s home in 2011 and having his family lunch with Epstein on his private island in 2012.
“He should be removed from office and, at a minimum, should appear before the committee,” Garcia stated about Lutnick.
Republican Representative Nancy Mace questioned Hillary Clinton about Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein during Thursday’s deposition. On Friday morning, Mace joined calls for the Commerce Secretary to appear before the committee.
“I think we’ll have the votes to subpoena him,” said Democratic Representative Ro Khanna.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Bill Clinton say about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein?
Bill Clinton told lawmakers he “did nothing wrong” in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and that he saw no indications of Epstein’s sexual abuse.
Was Hillary Clinton also questioned?
Yes, Hillary Clinton testified before lawmakers on Thursday and said she was unaware of Epstein’s sexual abuse of young girls and did not even recall meeting him.
What are Democrats saying about Donald Trump’s relationship with Epstein?
Democrats argue that if Bill Clinton is compelled to testify, the same standard should apply to President Donald Trump, who also had a relationship with Epstein.
As the investigation continues, will the focus shift to other individuals connected to Epstein, and what implications might that have for the broader conversation about accountability and power?
