Hillary Clinton has told a congressional panel she had “no idea” about the criminal activities of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, while calling on lawmakers to compel Donald Trump to testify under oath regarding his past association with Epstein.
Clinton spoke to reporters after spending nearly six hours behind closed doors before the US House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, which is investigating matters related to Epstein and his convicted associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
“I want to see the truth come out,” Clinton said, adding that she was disappointed the deposition was not made public. “So I wouldn’t have to be out here characterising it for you.”
Ahead of the hearing in Chappaqua, New York, Clinton released her opening statement on X, firmly denying any involvement or prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
“I had no idea about their criminal activities,” she said, referring to Epstein and Maxwell. “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.”
In an interview with the BBC last week in Berlin, Germany, Hillary Clinton said she had met Maxwell “on a few occasions”. Maxwell attended the wedding of the couple’s daughter, Chelsea Clinton, in 2010 in New York.
In her remarks, Clinton pressed the committee to summon Trump to testify under oath, noting that his name appears repeatedly in documents released by the US Department of Justice as part of its broader disclosure of Epstein-related files. She stressed that appearing in the documents does not imply wrongdoing.
The Clintons and Trump have all denied any misconduct related to Epstein.
Clinton’s testimony comes after she and former President Bill Clinton initially resisted a subpoena from the committee, describing it as politically motivated. They ultimately agreed to testify as potential contempt-of-Congress proceedings loomed. Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear before the panel on Friday.
The proceedings were briefly paused after a photograph taken inside the closed-door session was leaked. Democratic lawmakers accused Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of violating committee rules by sharing the image. Clinton later said her team halted the hearing temporarily to ensure procedures were being followed.
Democratic members of the committee defended Clinton following the session, characterising the deposition as repetitive and unproductive. Congressman Robert Garcia called for the full, unedited transcript to be released within 24 hours and reiterated demands for Trump’s testimony.
Committee Chairman James Comer said Clinton answered most questions but acknowledged that some responses left members unsatisfied. He rejected claims of unfair treatment, arguing that the investigation sought clarity about high-profile individuals connected to Epstein.
The Department of Justice has released millions of pages of documents related to Epstein’s federal investigations, revealing the breadth of his connections with prominent figures across politics, business and society. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Bill Clinton has previously stated he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and cut ties with him years ago. His appearance before the committee will mark a rare moment in congressional history — the first time a former US president has testified before a congressional panel since Gerald Ford in 1983.
Melissa Enoch
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