Clinton Declares "Did Nothing Wrong" in Unprecedented Epstein Testimony

WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton appeared before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Friday, asserting he "saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong" concerning the criminal activities of the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, marked a historic moment, as it was the first time a former American president has been compelled to testify before Congress. Clinton's testimony comes amid intensified scrutiny of his past association with Epstein and the broader network surrounding the disgraced figure, years after Epstein's 2019 arrest and subsequent death.

The former Democratic president, 79, offered his account in a sworn deposition, aiming to distance himself from any knowledge of Epstein's heinous crimes. He maintained that he was entirely unaware of Epstein's alleged abuse of underage girls during their acquaintance, which largely spanned the early 1990s to the mid-2000s. Clinton’s appearance follows that of his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who testified on Thursday, similarly denying any knowledge of Epstein's criminal conduct or personal association with him.

The Day Under Oath: Clinton's Defense

Throughout the hours-long grilling by lawmakers, Bill Clinton's core message remained consistent: he had "no idea" of the crimes Epstein was committing. In an opening statement shared on social media, he declared that if he had possessed any "inkling" of Epstein's wrongdoing, he "would have turned him in myself" and advocated for justice rather than maintaining any connection. Clinton attributed the current investigation's necessity to Epstein's success in "hid[ing] it from everyone so well for so long."

Clinton acknowledged the challenges of recalling precise details from events more than two decades in the past, stating he would likely often tell the committee he did "not recall" specifics. However, he expressed certainty in his lack of awareness regarding Epstein's abuses. While a video and transcript of the deposition are expected to be released in the coming days, the initial reports highlight Clinton's resolve to reaffirm his long-held position that his interactions with Epstein were for legitimate purposes and ceased years before the extent of Epstein's criminality became widely known.

A Decades-Long Connection: From White House Visits to Private Jets

The relationship between Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein, which began in the early 1990s, was characterized by social and professional interactions that continued into the early 2000s. During Clinton's presidency, Epstein reportedly made multiple visits to the White House, cultivating ties with Clinton's associates. After Clinton left office, the association continued, notably involving travel on Epstein's private jet.

Clinton's spokesperson confirmed he took "a total of four trips" on Epstein's aircraft between 2002 and 2003, for what were described as charitable missions to Europe, Asia, and Africa. These trips, according to his office, included staff, Clinton Foundation supporters, and Secret Service agents. Beyond air travel, Clinton also visited Epstein's New York apartment and office in 2002, each time accompanied by an aide and security detail. In a 2002 interview, Clinton publicly praised Epstein as "both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist." However, Clinton has consistently denied ever visiting Epstein's infamous private island, his New Mexico ranch, or his Palm Beach residence.

The late Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate convicted of sex trafficking, also commented on the dynamic, claiming in a 2025 interview that Clinton was "my friend, not Epstein's," and that any interactions between Clinton and Epstein were primarily facilitated by her and often linked to humanitarian endeavors. Maxwell further stated she was present on the plane trips with Clinton. Documents also revealed Maxwell's significant involvement in the early stages of the Clinton Global Initiative in 2004 and her attendance at Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010.

Persistent Questions and Unsealed Revelations

The long-standing association between Clinton and Epstein gained renewed, intense public and legal scrutiny following Epstein's 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges and his subsequent death in jail. In the years that followed, thousands of pages of court documents and emails related to Epstein have been unsealed, shedding further light on his connections to numerous high-profile individuals. These releases have included photographs depicting Bill Clinton in social settings linked to Epstein and Maxwell, including one showing him with Maxwell in a pool.

Despite these revelations, Bill Clinton has maintained that his direct contact with Epstein ended by 2005 or 2006, well before Epstein's initial conviction in Florida in 2008. His office reiterated in 2019 that he had "not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade." While Epstein victims, including Virginia Giuffre, have made claims that reference Clinton, they have not accused him of sexual misconduct or abuse related to Epstein's activities. One victim, Johanna Sjoberg, testified that Epstein once remarked that "Clinton likes them young," though Sjoberg stated she never met the former president. Federal investigations into the Clinton-Epstein relationship were launched in November 2025, and previously, the FBI had investigated Epstein-related allegations against Clinton, categorizing some as unverified and "not credible."

Political Undercurrents and Calls for Broader Accountability

The House Oversight Committee's decision to subpoena the Clintons was met with political tension. Republicans, particularly Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, have openly expressed their intent to scrutinize the former president's connections to Epstein. Hillary Clinton, in her testimony, accused the Republican-led committee of engaging in a "fishing expedition" and attempting to distract from other prominent figures' ties to Epstein, including former President Donald Trump. She also took issue with her own subpoena, stating she had no knowledge of Epstein's activities and had never met him.

The precedent set by compelling a former president to testify has led Democrats to call for similar scrutiny of Donald Trump regarding his own past connections to Epstein. Trump, for his part, commented that he didn't "like seeing him deposed." The ongoing congressional inquiries underscore a broader societal demand for accountability for all individuals associated with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as a transparent understanding of how his extensive criminal enterprise operated for so long.

As the House Oversight Committee continues its investigation, the release of Bill Clinton's full testimony and associated documents will likely fuel further public discussion regarding the responsibility of high-profile individuals in their associations, particularly when those associations later reveal deep-seated criminality. The quest for justice for Epstein's victims remains a central driving force behind these continued inquiries.