Former President Bill Clinton used his historic deposition on Friday to launch a defence of his wife, Hillary Clinton, calling her forced testimony before the House Oversight Committee a personal and political overreach.
In an emphatic opening statement delivered before six hours of questioning regarding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the former president claimed his wife had no involvement with the disgraced financier. He directly challenged the Republican-led committee’s decision to compel her appearance, which occurred just one day prior.
"Before we start, I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing," Clinton stated in his prepared remarks. He emphasised that she had no memory of even meeting Epstein and had never visited his properties. "Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right."
The remarks capped a high-stakes week in which both Clintons were compelled to testify under the threat of criminal contempt charges. Hillary Clinton, in her own Thursday deposition, characterised the proceedings as "partisan political theatre" and an "insult to the American people". She maintained that her only connection to the Epstein circle was a casual acquaintance with Ghislaine Maxwell.
For his part, Bill Clinton spent much of Friday distancing himself from Epstein’s criminal activities. He insisted he "saw nothing and did nothing wrong" during his past interactions, which included several flights on Epstein's private plane in the early 2000s. He told lawmakers he cut ties with Epstein years before the financier’s 2008 conviction.
"I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didn't see," Clinton said. "I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn't do."
Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., defended the subpoenas, suggesting that the investigation is necessary to understand the full scope of Epstein’s influence. While the depositions were held behind closed doors at a performing arts centre in the Clintons' hometown, the committee has pledged to release full transcripts and video recordings to the public.