Hillary Clinton’s neighbors condemn her Epstein testimony

More than a decade later, politics returned to the spotlight on February 26, when Hillary Clinton testified under subpoena to lawmakers behind closed doors at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center about her relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.

The arts center is less than a mile from a vast white clapboard Dutch colonial mansion on Old House Lane and is located on the former Reader’s Digest campus, which is now being redeveloped into a retail, office and residential complex.

On this quiet Thursday, with snow still on the ground, people continued their workday by drinking coffee, reporting to work, and shopping at the Whole Foods on the square.

While national media focused on Clinton’s arrival, there were no curious onlookers waiting to catch a glimpse of the former secretary of state. After all, the Clintons are not lacking in presence in the community. They are often seen walking their dogs, grabbing a Starbucks, or buying groceries at the Village Market. They also make sure to march in the Memorial Day parade.

However, in a town with many Democratic supporters, there were many opinions about the Clintons’ testimony.

“Secretary Clinton is being used as a pawn.”

New Castle Town Councilwoman Jennifer Naperstek Klein said she was pleased the town was willing to accommodate “this forced process at Secretary Clinton’s convenience” so that the depositions could be held at a venue close to home and familiar to the couple.

“But I am frustrated by this deliberately divisive attitude from Congress,” said Klein, an ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton. “This is an insult and an attack on the integrity of our country’s women.”

She said it was “ridiculous” for the attorney general not to go after President Donald Trump. “Instead, once again Secretary Clinton is being used as a pawn to divert focus from Donald Trump’s misdeeds,” she said.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Epstein were friends until they had a falling out in the 1990s and early 2000s, but Mr. Trump has denied any involvement. The president has also repeatedly denied all charges against him, saying he is “innocent.”

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who is leading the investigation, said lawmakers want to know more about how Epstein raised his money and built a social network of the rich and powerful. He said lawmakers would ask why Epstein raised money for the Clinton family foundation and why his colleague Ghislaine Maxwell attended the wedding of the Clinton family’s daughter.

“I think you want the whole truth to come out.”

Bill Clinton, who served as president from 1993 to 2001, said he was unaware of Epstein’s alleged criminal activities while dating him. But Comer said Epstein visited the White House 16 times while Bill Clinton was president.

In her testimony, Hillary Clinton accused the House members who subpoenaed her of going on a “road trip” seeking information rather than questioning Justice Department officials who did not prosecute the late financier.

Stopping by Starbucks, Steven Sabbagh said he was glad Hillary Clinton was forced to testify.

“I think you want all the truth to come out. I’m really sorry to the victims,” ​​he said. “I’m very proud and very happy that they’re relentless in their pursuit and that they’re somehow getting it resolved, because I really believe there are so many powerful individuals who are trying to quell this.”

“I hope everything comes out and people are punished for what they did,” said Saba, who lives near South Salem, New York.

“We are tired of people manipulating justice,” he added.

Hillary Clinton testifies that she doesn’t remember meeting Jeffrey Epstein

USA TODAY correspondent Bart Jansen reports on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Epstein deposition.

“Everyone must take responsibility.”

The Congressional investigation followed the Justice Department’s release of 3 million pages of documents related to Epstein’s criminal investigation. Millions more pages remain sealed.

Heather Smith, a recent Cornell University graduate applying to veterinary school, said that as a woman who has been sexually assaulted, she didn’t think this should be a politically polarizing topic.

“I think the biggest thing to regain trust from government is transparency, especially after COVID-19 and everything that has happened with miscommunication,” she said. “And the only way that’s going to happen is for Congress and other parts of the government to hold people accountable. Anyone involved or named in the Epstein file, whether it’s Bill Clinton or Donald Trump, I personally think they should be asked really tough questions and held accountable.”

IT expert Tim Gomez said he believes Hillary Clinton when she says she doesn’t know much. But he said he would keep an eye on Bill Clinton, who is scheduled to testify on February 27.

“So tomorrow will be the day,” said a Mount Kisco resident who identified himself as an independent. “I think we need to get to the bottom of it. Everyone should take responsibility for it.”

Betty Cotton, who has known Hillary Clinton for decades and participated in fundraising efforts since the former first lady ran for U.S. Senate from New York, called Clinton a “trooper.”

“If you really want to know, I think it’s a travesty. I just think it’s ridiculous,” she said. “I can’t believe cop she would agree to that. Would Trump do that?”

Contributor: Bert Jansen

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is USA TODAY’s White House correspondent. You can follow her at X @SwapnaVenugopal.