Hillary Clinton Accuses Republicans of Compelling Epstein Deposition to 'Distract Attention' From Trump

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

Hillary Clinton Accuses Republicans of Compelling Epstein Deposition to 'Distract Attention' From Trump

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sharply criticized the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, alleging that her compelled testimony in the ongoing investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell case is a deliberate political maneuver designed to shift focus away from President Donald Trump and his administration's activities. Clinton vehemently denied possessing any information pertinent to the late convicted sex offender's crimes, framing the committee's actions as a partisan distraction.

In a forceful opening statement, shared via the social media platform X, Clinton stated, "The Committee justified its subpoena to me based on its assumption that I have information regarding the investigations into the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Let me be as clear as I can. I do not." She further elaborated, referencing a sworn declaration from January 13, asserting, "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, homes, or offices. I have nothing to add to that." This unequivocal denial underscores her position that she has no relevant information to contribute to the committee's inquiry.

The deposition comes after an initial refusal by both Hillary and former President Bill Clinton to testify. Their legal team had previously stated that the Clintons had already provided the "limited information" they possessed regarding Epstein and Maxwell. At the time, the couple expressed frustration with the committee, with their lawyers accusing Chairman Rep. James Comer of Kentucky of engaging in "partisan politics." However, facing potential contempt of Congress charges earlier this month, the Clintons ultimately agreed to cooperate with the committee's investigation. Hillary Clinton's testimony took place on Thursday, with Bill Clinton scheduled for his deposition the following day. Both sessions are being conducted privately, though committee spokespersons have confirmed that transcripts and video recordings will eventually be released to the public.

The Epstein case has drawn significant attention due to the extensive network of prominent individuals linked to the disgraced financier. While Bill Clinton has been a subject of scrutiny, with his image appearing in various released documents, Hillary Clinton's name also surfaced in the "Epstein files." However, current publicly available information has not established a direct personal connection between her and Epstein. In a recent BBC interview, Clinton reiterated her lack of recollection of ever meeting Epstein, though she acknowledged meeting Maxwell on a few occasions. Crucially, neither of the Clintons has been formally accused of any wrongdoing related to the Epstein or Maxwell investigations.

The deposition proceedings on Thursday were briefly interrupted when a photograph from the private session was leaked onto social media. The image, shared by conservative commentator Benny Johnson, reportedly originated from Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado. This leak quickly drew attention, highlighting the sensitive nature of the proceedings and the intense public interest surrounding the case. Clinton's opening statement also touched upon her broader advocacy work for women and girls, including survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. She used the platform to condemn the Trump administration for what she described as undermining federal agencies tasked with combating such issues.

Clinton critically questioned the committee's approach, stating, "A committee endeavoring to stop human trafficking would seek to understand what specific steps are needed to fix a system that allowed Epstein to get away with his crimes in 2008." She further argued that a transparent committee would ensure the full release of files, protecting victims rather than powerful figures. "But that’s not happening," she declared. "Instead, you have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers."

This accusation echoes Clinton's previous claims last week, where she accused the Trump administration of orchestrating a "cover-up" concerning the Epstein files. Doubling down on these assertions, she challenged lawmakers: "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." She implored the committee to cease "fishing expeditions" and focus on accountability, asking, "What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?"

The controversy is further fueled by ongoing scrutiny of the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein case documents. Despite a law mandating the public release of related government files by December 19, the Trump administration faced criticism for not meeting the deadline. Additionally, the Justice Department has been criticized for redacting names of high-profile individuals connected to Epstein, while inadvertently revealing identifying information for some survivors. Recent reports by NPR and The New York Times indicate that the Justice Department may have withheld FBI interviews with a survivor who accused President Trump of sexual assault when she was a minor. This has prompted Representative Robert Garcia, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, to announce that Democrats will launch an investigation into the alleged "illegal withholding" of these interviews.

President Trump has consistently denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein's crimes. A White House spokesperson stated that Trump has been "totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein." Nevertheless, Trump's name and image appear multiple times in the publicly released files. An email from Epstein in 2019 suggested Trump "knew about the girls," and a December 2020 FBI file includes an allegation of rape against Trump, reportedly relayed by an unnamed caller who claimed a woman stated Donald J. Trump had raped her along with Jeffrey Epstein.

Ekhbary News Agency