Former U.S. president Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, who served as the former secretary of state, provided testimony for over nine hours last week concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Their depositions were made available to a Republican-led congressional committee for public viewing. The questioning, held in their Chappaqua, N.Y., hometown, revolved around Epstein, who passed away in a New York City jail in 2019 following an indictment, and Ghislaine Maxwell, his associate currently imprisoned for federal sex-trafficking charges.
During the testimony, Hillary Clinton affirmed that she had never met Epstein, a claim that has not been contradicted by any credible sources. Bill Clinton, in a public statement, asserted that he was unaware of any criminal activities committed by Epstein during their acquaintance. He stated that had he been aware, he would have reported it himself. Clinton also mentioned that he did not witness any inappropriate behavior or underage girls on Epstein’s plane.
The former president characterized his relationship with Epstein as transactional, with Epstein offering the use of his plane to support the establishment of Clinton’s foundation in exchange for discussions on various topics like economics and politics. Clinton emphasized that his interactions with Epstein were always professional, with foundation staff and the Secret Service present during their plane trips.
Clinton expressed surprise that he was not contacted by authorities during Epstein’s 2007 indictment in Florida and subsequent conviction. He mentioned that the relationship ended around 2003 when Epstein showed little interest in Clinton’s global health initiatives.
Regarding allegations from victims Virginia Giuffre and Maria Farmer, Clinton denied visiting Epstein’s New Mexico ranch and expressed uncertainty about visiting the Caribbean estate. He refuted the accusations and highlighted inconsistencies in the claims made by the accusers.
The Clintons’ relationship with Maxwell spanned several years, with Maxwell showing interest in early Clinton Global Initiative efforts. Photos released from the Epstein Files Transparency Act depicted Clinton with Maxwell and others, including a snapshot of him in a pool with Maxwell. Clinton clarified the context of the photos, explaining the circumstances surrounding the images.
The depositions proceeded in a professional manner, with minimal disruptions and no grandstanding. Video recordings of the closed-door hearings were promptly released, allowing the public to access the proceedings without sensationalism or distortions. Clinton’s testimony addressed various aspects of his association with Epstein and Maxwell, providing insights into their interactions and the nature of their relationship.