The House Oversight Committee has made public the full depositions of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton as part of an investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case. Their testimonies, released on March 4, 2024, followed separate closed-door sessions last week, where both faced extensive questioning for over four hours each.
Committee Chairman James Comer emphasized the need for clarity regarding the Clintons’ connections to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Prior to the depositions, Comer stated, “The American people have a lot of questions. To my knowledge, the Clintons haven’t answered very many, if any, questions about their knowledge or involvement with Epstein and Maxwell.” He added, “No one’s accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing. They’re going to have due process.”
Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex trafficking minors in 2019, died in prison the same year. Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s trafficking operations.
Hillary Clinton’s Testimony
During her deposition, Hillary Clinton maintained that she had never met Epstein. In a pointed opening statement, she accused the committee of using her and her husband as a diversion from then-President Donald Trump and his actions. “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 Trump’s actions,” Clinton stated. She further criticized the committee for not directly questioning Trump about his connections to Epstein.
Clinton acknowledged that Epstein had donated $20,000 to her senatorial campaign in 1999 but stated, “I have no recollection” of the donation, claiming that there was no coordination between her campaign and the committee.
The deposition also touched on conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein. When asked about potential links to the Pizzagate conspiracy, Clinton dismissed the allegations as “totally made up,” remarking, “It was an outrageous allegation that ended up hurting a number of people.”
In response to questions about her husband’s travels, Clinton confirmed that Bill Clinton had flown on Epstein’s private plane on “several trips” but expressed confusion regarding Secret Service details on those flights.
Bill Clinton’s Deposition
In his testimony, Bill Clinton maintained that he never engaged in any illicit activities related to Epstein. When shown photographs of himself with women, including one in a hot tub, he denied knowing the individual or having any sexual relations with her. He described his relationship with Epstein as “cordial” but clarified, “We were friendly, but I didn’t know him well enough to say we were friends.”
Clinton acknowledged visiting Epstein’s residence and traveling with him but denied any communications regarding young women or girls. He noted that Ghislaine Maxwell attended his daughter Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, stating, “I had no idea what she was up to at the time.”
As the deposition progressed, Clinton described Epstein as a “vacuum cleaner,” indicating that Epstein sought information from him on various topics, including the stock market. “He really wanted information; there was nothing overtly manipulative about it,” Clinton explained.
Both Clintons have not faced any charges related to their association with Epstein. The mere mention of their names in the investigation does not imply any wrongdoing. The testimonies aim to clarify their connections to Epstein and address public inquiries surrounding his extensive network.
As the investigation continues, the House Oversight Committee seeks to address the pressing questions raised by the public regarding Epstein’s connections and activities.
