Former President Bill Clinton, heard in the US Congress in the Epstein scandal: “I saw nothing and did nothing wrong”
Former US President Bill Clinton was questioned by the US Congress' investigative committee on the Epstein files. Clinton claims she did not witness or commit “anything wrong” during her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, according to The Guardian. The hearing takes place in a small town north of New York, Chappaqua, where Bill and Hillary Clinton own a home.
In his opening remarks, Bill Clinton said he did nothing wrong in his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, nor did he witness any abuse by the billionaire who committed suicide in 2019.
“First of all, I had no idea what crimes Epstein was committing. No matter how many photos you show me, there are two things that matter more than your interpretations of those 20-year-old photos. I know what I saw and more importantly what I didn't see. I know what I did and more importantly what I didn't do. I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong,” Clinton said.
“To include Hillary was not fair”
He said that because he grew up in a family marked by abuse, he would not have agreed to fly on Epstein's plane if he had had the slightest suspicion of his actions.
“I didn't see anything that made me think. We're only here because he hid so well for so long, and when it all came out with his guilty plea in 2008, I had long ceased to be associated with him,” said the former US president.
Bill Clinton also referred to his wife's hearing by the investigative committee, hearing that took place on Thursday.
“You got Hillary to come. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing. She doesn't even remember if she ever met him. She didn't travel with him or visit any of his properties. Whether you call 10 or 10,000 people, to include her was not right,” Clinton told the panel.
He warned members of Congress that he might frequently say “I don't remember” because his interactions with Epstein were so long ago.
“The girls and women whose lives were destroyed by Jeffrey Epstein deserve not just justice, but healing. They've been waiting too long for both of them. Although our brief friendship with Epstein ended many years before his crimes came to light, and although we didn't witness during our limited interactions any indication of what was going on, I'm here to present the little I know that might prevent something like this from ever happening again.” Bill Clinton also said.
How Hillary Clinton's hearing went
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was called to testify behind closed doors Thursday in the House Oversight Committee's investigation into the Epstein files, and accused Republicans of being “fully aware” that she had no information to help the investigation, instead demanding that President Donald Trump be subpoenaed.
She complained of “partisan political theater” by Republicans, who argue instead that the former secretary of state's testimony is vital to the House Oversight Committee's investigation.
Hillary Clinton accuses Republicans of “covering up” Trump's actions in the Epstein probe. “Partisan political theater”
“You forced me to testify, fully aware that I had no knowledge to assist your investigation, to distract from President Trump's actions and cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers,” Clinton said, according to her opening statement from the oversight committee, which she posted on X.
She requested that the committee also subpoena President Donald Trump to testify about interactions with Jeffrey Epstein.
“This institutional failure is designed to protect a political party and a public official, rather than seek truth and justice for victims and survivors, and the public who also want to get to the root of this problem,” Clinton continued. “My heart breaks for the survivors. And I'm furious on their behalf.”
The hearing of the Clintons ends months of fighting with the Republican head of the investigative committee, James Comer. Originally summoned in October, Bill and Hillary Clinton refused to appear, writes AFP.
Threatened by the committee with prosecution for obstruction of Congress, Hillary and Bill Clinton finally announced, at the end of January, that they agree to be heard. The couple unsuccessfully requested that the hearings be public, saying they wanted to avoid Republicans exploiting their statements.
