In a high-stakes deposition on Thursday, Hillary Clinton confronted lawmakers, asserting that their subpoena for her testimony regarding Jeffrey Epstein serves as a deliberate distraction from President Donald Trump's connections to the convicted sex predator. Clinton, who posted her opening statement online, firmly denied possessing any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities and stated she could not recall ever meeting him.
Clinton's Accusation of Political Motives
Clinton accused Republican members of compelling her testimony with full awareness that she lacks relevant information to aid their investigation. She argued this move is intended to shift focus away from Trump's actions and obscure them, despite legitimate demands for transparency. "They are fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract from President Trump's actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers," Clinton declared in her statement.
Trump's and Bill Clinton's Epstein Ties
Similar to former President Bill Clinton, Trump repeatedly socialized with Epstein, and his name features prominently in Justice Department files related to the case. This week, Democrats have highlighted evidence suggesting that some FBI files, which may contain accusations against Trump, are missing from a public database, potentially violating disclosure laws.
Republican Questioning and Committee Actions
House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) informed reporters before the deposition in Chappaqua, New York, that Clinton would face extensive questioning from Republicans. Lawmakers from Comer's committee traveled to New York for depositions scheduled on Thursday and Friday, aiming to interrogate both Hillary and Bill Clinton about their associations with Epstein.
"Today will be a long deposition, I would assume, and tomorrow will be an even longer deposition," Comer remarked, underscoring the intensity of the proceedings. The committee had previously approved bipartisan subpoenas for the Clintons, concurrently demanding the Trump administration surrender its investigative files on Epstein, who died in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges.
Bipartisan Support and Contempt Resolution
When the Clintons initially resisted the depositions, Democrats joined Republicans in advancing a contempt resolution that could have led to criminal charges. This bipartisan effort reflects the contentious nature of the investigation into Epstein's network.
Clinton's Denials and Connections
Hillary Clinton, a former first lady, U.S. senator, and secretary of state, has consistently stated she does not remember meeting Epstein, despite her husband's documented travels on Epstein's plane and numerous photographs together. However, Clinton acknowledged having a mutual friend with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's accomplice.
Committee's Focus on Financial Links
Comer clarified that the committee is not accusing Clinton of wrongdoing but is investigating financial ties. "We know that Jeffrey Epstein said many times in emails that he was the first person to raise money for the Clinton Initiative, the Clinton Foundation, that he solicited money at some of his properties for the Clinton Foundation," Comer explained. "There are a lot of questions pertaining to Secretary Clinton, with respect to Epstein and his involvement in the Clinton initiative and her relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell."
