Hillary Clinton tells congressional panel she has no information on Epstein

WASHINGTON: Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a congressional committee on Thursday that she does not recall ever meeting the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and has no information regarding his 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,” Clinton said in a statement submitted to the House Oversight Committee, as she prepared to give a closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York.

Clinton also accused the Republican-led panel of attempting to shift attention away from President Donald Trump’s past ties to Epstein. She said the Trump administration had “gutted” a State Department office focused on combating international sex trafficking.

Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton had initially declined to testify but agreed after lawmakers threatened to hold them in contempt of Congress. Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear before the committee on Friday.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer denied the inquiry was politically motivated. “No one is accusing at this moment the Clintons of any wrongdoing,” he said, adding that the committee would examine any possible interactions with Epstein, links to the Clintons’ charitable work, and any association with Epstein’s jailed accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Democratic Representative Robert Garcia said President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should also testify. Lutnick has acknowledged visiting Epstein’s private island years after saying he had cut ties.

Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, had extensive connections with prominent political and business figures.

Bill Clinton has admitted flying on Epstein’s private jet several times in the early 2000s after leaving office but has denied wrongdoing and expressed regret over the association. Chairman Comer said Epstein visited the White House 17 times during Bill Clinton’s presidency.

President Trump also had social ties with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s before Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Comer said evidence gathered by the panel does not implicate Trump.

The US Justice Department has released more than three million pages of Epstein-related documents in recent months, revealing links to a range of high-profile individuals, including Howard Lutnick and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The documents have also prompted investigations abroad, including in Britain involving Prince Andrew, the former Duke of York, and other prominent figures.

Transcripts of the Clintons’ testimony are expected to be made public.