Clinton accused the committee of attempting to deflect attention from former President Donald Trump’s past ties to Epstein. She also criticised the Trump administration, alleging it had weakened a State Department office focused on combating international sex trafficking
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told a congressional committee that she has no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities and does not recall ever meeting the disgraced financier, as a widening political and legal battle over his network continues to reverberate in Washington.
In a statement submitted to the House Oversight Committee ahead of a closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, Clinton said she had no connection to Epstein. “I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that,” she said, Reuters reported.
Clinton, the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nominee, appeared before the Republican-led panel after initially resisting its request for testimony. She and former President Bill Clinton had declined to participate voluntarily, but later agreed when lawmakers signalled they were prepared to pursue contempt of Congress proceedings.
Her appearance comes amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s associations with political and business elites following the release of millions of pages of documents by the Justice Department. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, but investigations into his network of contacts have continued.
Clinton accused the committee of attempting to deflect attention from former President Donald Trump’s past ties to Epstein. She also criticised the Trump administration, alleging it had weakened a State Department office focused on combating international sex trafficking.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer rejected suggestions that the inquiry was politically motivated. He emphasised that no accusations of wrongdoing had been levelled against the Clintons at this stage. According to Comer, the committee is seeking clarity on any possible interactions Hillary Clinton may have had with Epstein, his potential involvement in the Clintons’ charitable initiatives, and any links to Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a prison sentence.
Comer has said transcripts of both Clintons’ interviews will be released publicly. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify separately. He has previously acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private plane several times in the early 2000s after leaving office, while denying any wrongdoing and expressing regret over the association.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking member, has called for a broader scope, urging that former President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also be asked to testify. Lutnick has admitted to visiting Epstein’s private island years after he says he ended their relationship.
