Bill Clinton became the first former president compelled to testify to members of Congress. At a closed-door session, the House Oversight Committee heard from Clinton about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The testimony comes a day after the committee questioned his wife, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, for more than 6 hours. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports.
Geoff Bennett:
Bill Clinton became the first former president compelled to testify to members of Congress today. At a closed-door session in Chappaqua, New York, the House Oversight Committee heard from Clinton about his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr. Clinton said he did nothing wrong, adding — quote — “I saw nothing that ever gave me pause.”
Republican Chairman James Comer spoke late this afternoon.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY):
I will have to say that President Clinton answered every question or attempted to answer every question. Now, we can talk about some of his answers in more detail. And I’m sure once the video is released to the transcript is released, not only will you, but a lot of people in America will have more questions about some of the answers that were given.
Geoff Bennett:
The former president’s testimony comes a day after the committee questioned his wife, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for more than six hours.
She said she had no new information about Epstein and had never met him.
Joining us now is our congressional correspondent, Lisa Desjardins.
So, Lisa, what did President Clinton say today behind closed doors?
Lisa Desjardins:
This was extraordinary. The former president testified for nearly seven hours. He did say, as you indicated, that he knew of no wrongdoing.
And specifically, in his opening statement, I want to read another quote that he had. He wrote: “Not only would I have not flown on Epstein’s plane if I had known any inkling of what he was doing. I would have turned him in myself.”
Now, photos in the Epstein files, though, show some of the relationship between the two men. Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane roughly two dozen times. That was part of the work for the Clinton Foundation that he was doing after leaving the Republican office.
Now, Democrats on the committee both defended the former president, but also sharply questioned him.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM):
President Clinton, as of today, has not been accused of a crime. There are not public files available that accuse him of a crime, whereas there are publicly available documents that do allege a crime of President Trump. But it is very well-established that President Clinton had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Lisa Desjardins:
We will return to the Trump question in a minute.
But one other thing that Republicans said today was that they’re investigating whether Epstein was part of some foreign intelligence operation targeting some public officials in America.
Geoff Bennett:
So what is known about Clinton’s relationship with Epstein?
Lisa Desjardins:
Right.
Now, this is something that’s important, because Clinton said in his opening statement that he had a brief acquaintance with Epstein. But we know that they knew each other at least 10 years, going back to when President Clinton was in office in 1993. Ghislaine Maxwell said she introduced them.
There was something transactional. President Clinton, with his foundation, needed wealthy donors. He also needed a way to travel around the world. Epstein and his plane provided some of those things. But it wasn’t all business. There are photos in the Epstein files that show, for example, President Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose face has been Blacked out to keep her anonymous.
Clinton did also write a note in that infamous 2003 birthday book for Epstein talking about friendship in that. And to this idea that Clinton never had any inkling that there was anything wrong, the actor Kevin Spacey was on one of those flights, on several flights in Africa with Epstein and Clinton.
And he said in an interview a few years ago that he saw young girls on those planes with Clinton and Epstein, and he was worried about the public risk for Clinton. Clinton says he never saw that.
Geoff Bennett:
On the politics of this, you have the Republicans who lead this committee trying to, in some way, make the Clintons the face of this. You also have Democrats now trying to subpoena President Trump, which would be unprecedented.
Lisa Desjardins:
Right.
There are civil court examples where Clinton and Trump have both been in civil court either as president or as former presidents. But the subpoena aspect of this is interesting if President Trump is subpoenaed. Really, it could be a constitutional question.
But there’s more to it now, because Republicans are not even asking President Trump to testify. We know that he had a long association with Epstein. And whether he did wrongdoing or not — the Republicans say no — they’re not saying Clinton had any accusations of wrongdoing. They just want to answer questions.
There are questions about why Republicans still refuse to call President Trump.
Geoff Bennett:
Any other officials who could be forced to testify?
Lisa Desjardins:
Yes, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He is a billionaire who had a lot of association with Epstein. And, in fact, he told Congress that he was mistaken in at one point saying he didn’t speak to Epstein after his arrest. And, in fact, we know that he saw him in 2012 on his island.
So there are questions from Congress about him, and it does look like he could be subpoenaed.
Geoff Bennett:
Lots of questions, lots to track.
Lisa Desjardins, always on top of all of it, thanks so much.
Lisa Desjardins:
You’re welcome.
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