Former President Bill Clinton has attempted to recast his role in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal with a carefully scripted video statement following a lengthy closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill.
Clinton appeared remotely from his home office in Chappaqua, New York, on Friday to testify before the House Oversight Committee about his relationship with Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose ties to powerful Democrats have long raised serious questions, according to Gateway Pundit. Committee Chairman James Comer told reporters that Clinton went out of his way to clear President Donald Trump, recounting that the former president testified that, to his knowledge, Trump had no involvement with Epstein.
Trump has never said anything to me to make me think he was involved with Epstein, Comer said, underscoring a point that directly undercuts years of media insinuations aimed at tying President Trump to Epsteins crimes. Fox News reported that Clintons attorneys repeatedly intervened during the deposition, stepping in several times to keep him from saying too much under oath.
Later Friday evening, a visibly strained and hoarse Clinton released a video message after what was described as a seven-hour grilling by lawmakers. I just finished testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee. I did it for two reasons. First, I live my country, including our Constitution. And America was built on the idea that no person is above the law. Even presidents. Especially presidents and that we should all live under the same set of rules, Bill Clinton said.
Seeking to distance himself from Epstein, Clinton insisted his involvement was minimal and long in the past. Though my brief acquaintance with Epstein ended years before his crimes came to light, and though I never witnessed during our limited interactions any indication of what was truly going on, I offered the little I do know in hopes that it might prevent anything like this from ever happening again, Clinton said.
He further tried to draw a bright line around his conduct, repeating a carefully lawyered formulation that echoed his testimony. I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didnt see. And I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didnt do, Clinton said echoing his opening statement to the Committee.
Clinton also used the moment to attack Republicans for calling his wife, Hillary Clinton, to testify, portraying her as an uninvolved bystander. I also have to say something personal. Republicans made Hillary testify yesterday and she had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein, nothing. She has no memory of even meeting him, Clinton said.
Earlier in the day, President Trump, who has endured years of aggressive investigations and partisan lawfare, struck a surprisingly restrained tone regarding Clintons deposition. I dont like seeing him deposed, but they certainly went after me a lot more than that, Trump said, a reminder that while Democrats and their media allies long tried to weaponize Epstein against him, even Clinton is now on record acknowledging there is no evidence tying President Trump to Epsteins crimes.
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