Hillary Clinton Denies Knowledge of Epstein Crimes, Urges Trump to Testify Before Congress

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told a Republican-led congressional panel that she had no knowledge of the crimes committed by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, while calling on President Donald Trump to testify about his own links to Epstein.

Clinton made the remarks on Thursday during a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, marking the start of two days of high-profile questioning that will also include her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

“I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr Epstein,” Clinton said in an opening statement later shared on social media, following more than six hours of questioning. She also said she was confident her husband had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.

After the deposition, Clinton accused the panel of selectively targeting political opponents of Trump, alleging the investigation was being used to shield the sitting president from scrutiny. “I never went to his island, I never went to his homes, I never went to his offices,” she said, reiterating calls for Trump to testify.

The hearing was briefly disrupted after a photograph of Clinton inside the deposition room was posted online, in what was described as a breach of the closed-door agreement. Clinton criticised the incident, saying the rules of the hearing had been violated.

Democrats have argued that the investigation is being weaponised for political purposes rather than genuine oversight, though several Democratic lawmakers previously joined Republicans in advancing contempt of Congress charges related to the probe.

Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear before the panel on Friday, in what will be the first time a former US president has been compelled to testify before Congress. The committee has said it is seeking to clarify the extent of political, financial and institutional ties to Epstein, as well as why federal authorities did not pursue further charges against him following his 2008 plea deal in Florida.

While both Trump and Bill Clinton are named in recently released government documents linked to Epstein, both have said they cut ties with him years before his conviction. The Oversight Committee chair, James Comer, said more questions remain, particularly for Bill Clinton, as the investigation continues.