Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a sharp rebuke to a congressional committee investigating her alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein, calling the proceedings a “fishing expedition” aimed at diverting attention from former President Donald Trump.
In her opening statement during a closed-door deposition, Clinton called the hearings “partisan political theatre” and “an insult to the American people”, emphasizing that she has never met Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex trafficker who died in 2019.
“You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up,” Clinton stated. She stressed that the committee appeared more interested in protecting a political party than seeking truth and justice for Epstein’s victims.
Clinton highlighted her own history of campaigning against sex trafficking and criticized the committee for focusing on her instead of pressing Trump for answers about his appearances in the Epstein files. She asked why crucial information is being withheld and who is being protected in this investigation.
The hearing was temporarily paused after a photo of Clinton’s testimony was shared on social media, violating the closed-door rules. The image was reportedly posted by a Republican committee member, drawing condemnation from Democrats.
After the brief suspension, Clinton resumed her testimony, calling for transparency and noting that she would have preferred the hearing to be public. She also described the committee’s questions as repetitive and emphasized her lack of personal knowledge about Epstein’s crimes.
Clinton’s testimony sets the stage for her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who is also scheduled to appear before the committee. Both are responding to subpoenas amid ongoing scrutiny into Epstein-related networks and high-profile connections.
