WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former President Bill Clinton fielded questions Friday in front of the House Oversight Committee during an hours-long closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York.
The highly anticipated deposition is part of the House Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation into the late, convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
The former president was compelled to testify before the House Oversight Committee after House lawmakers on both sides prepared to hold he and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt. The near-contempt vote came after Republicans accused the Clintons of delaying and defying their subpoenas for months.
Former President Bill Clinton has not been accused of any wrongdoing. However, he did have clear ties to Epstein, as made evident in images and emails released by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“We know President Clinton had- and Secretary Clinton confirmed this yesterday- Jeffrey Epstein was in the White House 17 times while Bill Clinton was president. We know that Bill Clinton flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane at least 27 times. So those are questions that we’re going to ask,” said Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., on Friday.
The former president’s deposition comes just one day after that of his wife, former Secretary of State and former First Lady, Hillary Clinton.
“I never met Jeffrey Epstein, never had any connection or communication with him. I knew Ghislaine Maxwell casually, as an acquaintance,” said Hillary Clinton on Thursday.
The rare moment of a former U.S. president sitting for a deposition can set an entirely new precedent. Democrats are now demanding President Donald Trump—who is also named in the files—sit before the committee.
“It’s time for the President to answer questions about why files are missing from the DOJ, why there’s been a White House cover up, and why we continue, in that administration, to call this investigation a hoax,” said Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, D-Calif.
According to Chairman Comer, Clinton told the committee that President Trump never said anything to him to suggest he was involved.
“Ranking member Garcia asked President Clinton, quote, ‘Should President Trump be called to answer questions from this committee?’ And President Clinton said, that’s for you to decide,” said Comer. “The president [Clinton] went on to say that the President Trump has never said anything to me to make me think he was involved,” Comer added.
Democrats say Comer’s recollection wasn’t an entirely accurate characterization of Clinton’s remarks and are demanding the transcript be released for the public to see.
“President Clinton did bring up some additional information about some discussions with President Trump. I think that the way Chairman Comer described it, I don’t think is a complete accurate description of what actually was said. So let’s release the full transcript,” said Garcia.
The deposition concluded just before 6:00pm ET Friday evening.
“President Clinton answered, or attempted to answer, every question,” said Comer speaking to reporters. “This is a serious investigation. We will continue to try to get the truth to the American people and justice for the victims.”
“I guess innocent until proven guilty,” Comer added, when asked if he still believes the Clintons have not committed any wrongdoing.
Republicans said Clinton’s answers provided constructive information to help steer the investigation. Congressman Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., a member of the committee, echoed similar remarks and said the deposition was not a highly partisan event.
“I think President Clinton today was quite candid, probably more candid than his attorneys were comfortable with. Obviously, when we release video of this, you’ll have the opportunity to digest it. But we do have to get justice for the victims, because in all of the political food fight of Washington, D.C., what is getting lost is the fact that there are victims that deserve justice,” Langworthy said.
Comer said the committee looks forward to releasing the video and transcript of the deposition.
