Hillary defends Bill Clinton’s Epstein ties, says they ended years before crimes came to light

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Hillary Clinton testified before House lawmakers on February 26 as part of the congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. After the closed-door deposition, she addressed reporters and defended her husband’s past association with Epstein.

Clinton said any ties between Bill Clinton and Epstein ended years before the financier’s criminal conduct became public. The deposition briefly drew attention after a photo taken inside the hearing room surfaced online, despite rules prohibiting images from private proceedings.

Hillary Clinton defends Bill Clinton’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein during House deposition

During questioning, Clinton was asked about references to her husband in investigative files and about a photograph showing him with a woman. She said she was prepared to address the matter and stressed that the timeline was important.

“I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epstein's criminal activities came to light,” she said.

Clinton also referenced Epstein’s 2008 plea deal, suggesting that earlier scrutiny might have changed the course of events. She argued that many individuals who interacted with Epstein before that time were unaware of his conduct.

“Perhaps his predatory behavior could have been stopped earlier, but I think it is fair to say that the vast majority who had contact with him before his criminal plea in ’08 were like most people; we did not know what he was doing. And I think that that is exactly what my husband will testify to tomorrow,” she said.

Clinton did not elaborate on the context of the photograph or identify the woman pictured with Bill Clinton.

Hillary Clinton denies meeting Jeffrey Epstein or traveling on his plane

In her opening statement, Clinton said she had no knowledge of Epstein’s actions and did not recall ever encountering him. She also said she never flew on his plane or visited his properties.

“I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island home or offices,” she said.

Clinton also stated that she had no new information regarding Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.

She questioned the purpose of compelling her testimony, suggesting lawmakers were aware she had no direct knowledge relevant to the investigation. In a statement shared publicly, she argued that if the committee sought answers about Epstein’s activities, it should question Donald Trump under oath.

“If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein's trafficking 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,” her statement read.

The deposition took place in Chappaqua, New York, where the Clintons maintain a residence. Lawmakers are expected to question Bill Clinton in a similar private session.