Hillary Clinton urges Trump to testify in Epstein probe: ‘Who is being protected?’

CHAPPAQUA, NEW YORK: Hillary Clinton called on President Donald Trump to testify about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein during a Republican-led hearing on Thursday, February 26.

Appearing before a GOP-led panel investigating the disgraced financier, Clinton said she had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, had never met him, and had never visited his island or flown on his plane, while accusing the panel of trying to protect the president. 

Hillary Clinton accuses GOP of using hearings to distract from Trump’s actions

Hillary Clinton also called for President Donald Trump to testify in her opening statement shared on X ahead of her deposition. In the statement, Clinton accused Republicans of using the hearings as a distraction aimed at shifting blame away from Trump’s administration.

“You have compelled me to testify, fully aware I have no knowledge that would assist in your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up,” she wrote. Clinton argued, "If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein's crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement. It would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files."

She added, “If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done.” Clinton posed pointed questions: “What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?”

Challenging the committee, she said, “My challenge to you, Mr Chairman, Members of the Committee, is the same challenge I put to myself throughout my long service to this nation: how to be worthy of the trust the American people have given you. They expect statesmanship, not gamesmanship."

She concluded, “Leading, not grandstanding. They expect you to use your power to get to the truth and to do more to help survivors of Epstein's crimes."

Eric Swalwell urges Trump testimony in Epstein probe

Rep Eric Swalwell (D-CA) told MSNBC that Democrats must use their “leverage” to compel President Donald Trump to testify about his ties to the late criminal Jeffrey Epstein. Swalwell made the comments during an appearance on 'Alex Witt Reports'.

Host Alex Witt noted that the Clintons had agreed to a closed-door deposition with House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) regarding Epstein. Witt added that Trump had a “somewhat surprising” reaction this week, calling it a “shame” that they would have to testify. He then asked whether Trump’s reaction suggested concern that Democrats might also call him to testify.

“Democrats will call him to testify,” Swalwell said. “We will use the leverage we have to pressure Comer to have Donald Trump testify.”

Swalwell claimed that if an investigation is to be thorough, everyone connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s activities should be required to testify, including both those directly involved and those on the periphery.

He added, “The Clintons are willing to testify, they’re willing to do something Donald Trump is not. Yet the man mentioned in over 5,000 files, more than anyone else, should be first on the list, not the one Republicans are trying to shield.”

In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Wednesday that Trump had been “totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein.” Trump himself has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, stating he had no involvement in Epstein’s crimes and that his connections ended well before Epstein’s conviction.