Chappaqua, United States. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a congressional committee on Thursday that she did not remember ever meeting the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and said she had no information to share about his criminal activities.
Closed-door deposition and statement
Clinton released a statement as she delivered a closed-door deposition to the House of Representatives Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York, saying, “I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices.”
Questions raised during testimony
After a seven-hour appearance before the panel, Clinton told reporters she was repeatedly asked the same questions throughout the day and said she offered some suggestions on conducting the investigation, without detailing them.
Clinton said that late into the proceedings “it got quite unusual because I started being asked about UFOs and a series of questions about Pizzagate, one of the most vile bogus conspiracy theories.”
Reference to 2016 conspiracy claims
Clinton was referring to false, widely disseminated claims in 2016 that a Washington, D.C. pizzeria was a front for a child sex ring run by her and that New York City police had discovered a pedophilia ring linked to Democrats.
Focus of investigation and Trump ties
In her prepared testimony, Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, accused the Republican-led panel of trying to shift focus away from President Donald Trump’s ties to Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
She said Trump’s administration has “gutted” a State Department office focused on international sex trafficking.
Chairman Comer’s response
Speaking to reporters after Clinton’s testimony, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer dismissed the idea of having Trump appear before the panel.
“President Trump has answered hundreds if not thousands of questions from you all about Epstein and I think he’s been very transparent in releasing the documents,” said Comer, a Kentucky Republican.
Next testimony
Clinton and her husband, Democratic former President Bill Clinton, initially refused to testify before the committee but relented when lawmakers moved to hold them in contempt of Congress.
Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify to the committee on Friday.
What questions do you think the committee should prioritize in its Epstein investigation?