Former President Bill Clinton appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Friday for a high-stakes deposition, firmly denying any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s illicit activities.
The closed-door session, held in Chappaqua, follows a similar six-hour testimony given by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday.
The proceedings have become a flashpoint for partisan tension, with Democrats labeling the investigation "political theatre" while Republicans insist on transparency regarding the former first family's ties to Epstein.
Defending the Clinton Record
During his opening remarks, the 42nd president grew personal, criticizing lawmakers for subpoenaing his wife. He argued that Hillary Clinton had "nothing to do with" Epstein and no recollection of ever meeting him.
Addressing his own well-documented history of flying on Epstein’s private jet for post-presidency charitable work, Clinton drew on his own childhood experiences with domestic abuse to underscore his stance. He stated:
"I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong... I am not going to say something I’m not sure of. This was all a long time ago."
Clinton also warned the committee that his memory of events from over two decades ago might be limited, noting he would likely use the phrase "I don't recall" frequently throughout the day.
Partisan Divide Over Cooperation
Despite the friction, some lawmakers expressed surprise at the tone of the meeting. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) described the atmosphere as "respectful," noting that Clinton had not invoked the Fifth Amendment and was answering questions in a "thoughtful and deliberate manner."
Even some Republican members, such as Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), initially characterized the former president as "cooperative" and "transparent."
However, the session was not without controversy. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA) used the opportunity to push for the testimony of Donald Trump, citing "additional information" brought up by Clinton during the questioning regarding past discussions with the current president.
The Road Ahead
The House Oversight Committee is currently alternating one-hour rounds of questioning between parties. Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) indicated that the deposition could stretch late into the evening.
Key developments expected in the coming days include:
Video Release: Republicans have pledged to release unedited video footage of Hillary Clinton’s Thursday testimony as early as Saturday.
Transcript Demands: Democrats are calling for the immediate release of full transcripts to counter what they call "mischaracterizations" of the testimony by GOP members.
Further Subpoenas: Representative Luna indicated she may seek to subpoena women mentioned in Epstein’s non-prosecution agreement to gain further clarity on his social circle.
While flight logs and archival photos have confirmed Clinton's past proximity to Epstein, no evidence has surfaced to date suggesting the former president was involved in or aware of Epstein's sex trafficking operation.
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