A defiant former President Bill Clinton claimed the racy photos of himself in the Epstein files — including one of him in a hot tub — doesn’t change the fact that he did “nothing wrong.”
Clinton said he was giving testimony to the House Oversight committee on Jeffrey Epstein because “I love my country” and the victims “deserve no only justice, but healing.”
The former president posted his two-page opening statement to social media, writing: “As someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse, not only would I not have flown on his plane if I had any inkling of what he was doing—I would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes, not sweetheart deals.”
He said his “acquaintance” with Epstein was “brief” and “ended years before his crimes came to light.” And he noted he “never witnessed” any crimes.
“I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” his statement read. “Even with 20/20 hindsight, I saw nothing that gave me pause.”
He also raged that his wife, Hillary Clinton, was forced to testify. “I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing. She has no memory of even meeting him.”
Clinton warned Republicans that he may say repeatedly “I do not recall,” pointing out that the events took place long ago and he would be under oath.
The former president blasted the GOP lawmakers for their focus on what he called “the 20-year-old photos.”
“I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing. No matter how many photos you show me,” he said.
Some of the photos show Clinton and Epstein at events. But others were of a shirtless Clinton with redacted female companions.
In one photo, Clinton is swimming in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell and a woman with her face blacked out to conceal her identity. In another, Clinton is reclining in a hot tub with his hands behind his head, a woman with her identity blacked out seated next to him.
Another photo shows Clinton seated with a woman on his lap, her face blacked out. The location is unclear.
The files also contained photos of Clinton with famous people like Kevin Spacey, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Mick Jagger.
Before the deposition began, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said lawmakers would ask Clinton about the pictures.
“There are a lot of photos that have been released by the Department of Justice,” Comer told reporters before their deposition of the former president started.
He also said Clinton will be asked about Epstein’s ties to his Clinton Foundation.
Much remains a mystery about Clinton and Epstein’s relationship.
The former president repeatedly has denied knowing anything about Epstein’s criminal activities and said he regrets his friendship with the late pedophile. Clinton has been accused of sexual assault in the past – particularly during his 1992 presidential campaign – but he has not been accused of abuse in the Epstein case.
But increased scrutiny has fallen on Clinton since the release of the Justice Department files, where his name and image appear repeatedly.
The two men appeared to connect in the 1990s. Epstein donated to Clinton’s presidential campaign and was pictured at the White House during his presidency.
After Clinton left public office, Epstein supported his Clinton Foundation and allowed the former president to use his private jet for international travel. Clinton appears in the Epstein flight logs for trips to Europe, Asia and Africa, which Clinton’s staff say were tied to the work of the foundation. Clinton denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island and there are no flight logs showing him making such a journey.
Clinton and Epstein’s contact appeared to have ended in the early 2000s. In 2019, Clinton’s office stated he had “not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade”. Epstein was arrested and convicted in Florida in 2008 on charges of procuring a minor for prostitution.
Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell continued to socialize with the Clintons and, in 2010, attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding. Hillary Clinton told reporters on Thursday that Maxwell was a “guest of a guest” at the event.
The Oversight Committee subpoenaed both Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify about Epstein. It turned into a spirited battle between the Clintons and the Republicans. After months of back-and-forth, the couple agreed to testify as the House was moving toward voting on contempt resolutions for them.
Hillary Clinton testified for about six hours on Thursday and blasted Republicans afterward. She told reporters she didn’t know Epstein and ripped the Oversight panel for performing “partisan political theater.”
And Bill Clinton ended his opening statement with fighting words, telling the lawmakers: “Fire away.”
