Former President Bill Clinton told lawmakers he “did nothing wrong” and had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse as he became the first former president compelled to testify before Congress.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Former President Bill Clinton appeared before members of the House Oversight Committee on Friday for a closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, where he firmly denied wrongdoing in connection with his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” Clinton stated in an opening message he shared publicly outside the deposition.
The session marked the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been compelled to provide testimony to Congress. The deposition came one day after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with lawmakers for her own hours-long questioning.
Bill Clinton has not been accused of criminal conduct. However, lawmakers from both parties have sought clarification regarding his past relationship with Epstein and Epstein’s former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, whose conviction in 2021 for sex trafficking brought renewed scrutiny to Epstein’s circle.
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said prior to Friday’s deposition that broader questions of accountability remain central to the inquiry.
“Men — and women for that matter — of great power and great wealth from all across the world have been able to get away with a lot of heinous crimes, and they haven’t been held accountable, and they have not even had to answer questions,” Comer said. He added, “No one’s accusing anyone of any wrongdoing, but I think the American people have a lot of questions.”
Hillary Clinton told lawmakers Thursday that she had no knowledge of Epstein’s sexual abuse and did not recall meeting him. She also said she expected her husband to testify that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal conduct during the period they associated.
“I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epstein’s criminal activities came to light,” she said following her deposition.
Bill Clinton’s relationship with Epstein dates back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 in Florida state court to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl, a case that later drew national criticism over the terms of his plea deal. He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died later that year in a New York jail cell.
Republican lawmakers have sought testimony from Clinton for years, particularly after Epstein’s 2019 death prompted widespread public scrutiny and speculation. Interest intensified when photographs of Clinton appeared in the Department of Justice’s initial public release of Epstein and Maxwell case materials. One image showed Clinton seated on a plane next to a woman whose face was redacted, with his arm around her. Another depicted Clinton and Maxwell in a swimming pool with a third person whose identity was obscured.
Epstein visited the White House multiple times during Clinton’s presidency, and the two later traveled together internationally in connection with humanitarian initiatives. Comer has stated that the committee has gathered evidence indicating Epstein visited the White House 17 times and that Clinton flew aboard Epstein’s aircraft 27 times.
Ahead of his deposition, Clinton maintained that he had limited knowledge of Epstein’s activities and was unaware of any sexual abuse.
Democrats on the committee supported questioning Clinton, while also arguing that similar scrutiny should apply to others who had contact with Epstein. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the committee’s top Democrat, said, “I think that President Trump needs to man up, get in front of this committee and answer the questions and stop calling this investigation a hoax.”
Comer responded by stating that President Donald Trump has already addressed questions about Epstein from members of the press.
Democratic lawmakers have also called for the resignation of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, citing past interactions with Epstein. Lutnick previously stated on a podcast that he severed ties with Epstein after a 2005 visit to Epstein’s residence disturbed him and his wife. However, case file disclosures show that Lutnick attended a 2011 event at Epstein’s home and that his family had lunch with Epstein on his private island in 2012.
“He should be removed from office and at a minimum should come before the committee,” Garcia said of Lutnick.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., questioned Hillary Clinton about Lutnick’s past ties during Thursday’s deposition and later joined calls for him to appear before the committee. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said, “I believe we will have the votes to subpoena him.”
The committee is working to release transcripts and video recordings of Hillary Clinton’s deposition. It remains unclear when materials from Bill Clinton’s testimony will be made public.
Friday’s proceedings underscore ongoing congressional efforts to examine the broader network of relationships surrounding Epstein and to determine what accountability, if any, may apply to public officials and prominent figures who had contact with him prior to his criminal convictions.
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