Hillary Clinton speaks out about Epstein in newly released video testimony
“It’s a global scourge.” The House Oversight Committee released video testimony of former Secretary of State Jeffrey Epstein to Hillary Clinton.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denied knowledge of the criminal activities of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell in recorded testimony to the House Oversight Committee.
Ms. Clinton said she had never met Mr. Epstein, flown on Mr. Epstein’s plane, or traveled to Mr. Epstein’s island. She admitted that she knew Maxwell “by chance.”
“Like every decent human being, I am horrified by what I have learned about their crimes,” Clinton said.
“Congressional investigations are too often partisan political theater,” the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate said in his opening statement. Proceedings were then suspended after Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) leaked a photo of the former secretary of state to conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson.
The next day, former President Bill Clinton appeared before the committee, becoming the first former president to be forced to testify before lawmakers. He also said he had “no knowledge of the crimes committed by Epstein.”
The Clintons have never been formally accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein. The deposition, which lasted more than four hours, was held on February 26th and the video was released on March 2nd.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to transport minors for illegal sexual activity. Critics of the investigation have questioned why more co-conspirators have not been indicted.
Here’s what you need to know about Hillary Clinton’s deposition.
Clinton demands Trump’s deposition
Citing his expertise as a former lawyer, Clinton asked Trump to give a deposition before the committee.
He pointed to his conviction for sexually abusing and defaming author E. Jean Carroll and his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records as “past conduct that may be related to money or crime.”
“He has supported the Fifth Amendment hundreds of times, so I’m not saying we’re going to get a lot of information, but given what’s in the file and what he’s done and what he’s done, he’s going to be on my witness list,” Clinton said.
Video shows the moment Clinton found out about the photo leak
The deposition video shows the moment Ms. Clinton discovered that Ms. Boebert had first leaked her photos.
Mr. Clinton was talking to a fundraiser for Rep. Nita Lowey when a lawyer interrupted to tell him that the photo had been posted of Mr. Johnson.
“If you’re doing that, I’m done. You can disrespect me from now until the cows come home. This is just typical behavior,” Clinton said. She is seen starting to leave the room before the deposition is taken off the record.
The leak temporarily halted depositions, and Clinton told a news conference that she was “upset” and “suggested a possible violation of other agreements we had.”
Clinton’s lawyers have argued that the press should be allowed to participate in the hearing when depositions resume. They do it again when they notify the committee of the second photo posted by Johnson.
Boebert defended her actions after the deposition, telling reporters, “I really respect her blue suit and I wanted everyone to see that.”
Clinton asks ‘Pizzagate’ questions during Epstein deposition
During her deposition, Boebert asked Clinton about the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory in a series of questions.
“Pizzagate” refers to a conspiracy theory spread by the far-right conspiracy movement QAnon, which first emerged ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The paper alleged that Clinton and other Democratic Party officials were involved in a child sex ring operating out of the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington, D.C.
“This was an outrageous allegation that ended up hurting a lot of people,” Clinton said in response to a question, referring to an incident in 2016 that caused a deranged young man to show up with an assault rifle and shoot up a local pizza place.
Federal prosecutors said Edgar Madison Welch showed up at Comet Ping Pong in December 2016 with a loaded weapon to investigate “unsubstantiated rumors of a child sex trafficking ring” allegedly operating inside the restaurant. He opened fire on the restaurant, but no one was injured.
He pleaded guilty in March 2017 to federal charges related to interstate transportation of firearms and ammunition and District of Columbia charges related to assault with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to four years in prison.
News outlets such as the Washington Post and the New York Times have repeatedly debunked this conspiracy theory.
“I expected a lot of interesting questions today, but Pizzagate was not on my list,” Clinton said in the affidavit.
Mace and Clinton have tense exchange over Lutnick and Epstein
Representative Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) fought with Mr. Clinton over her relationship with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
Mr. Lutnick invited Mr. Epstein to a fundraiser for Mr. Clinton in 2015, even though Mr. Epstein and his wife had said in 2005 that they were determined to avoid the wealthy financier, according to emails on file. The invitation came at a time when Epstein was already a convicted sex offender.
It is unclear whether the wealthy investor attended the event. He did not donate to Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Mr. Clinton said he had known Mr. Lutnick since his time in the Senate following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. At his company, Cantor Fitzgerald, 658 people were killed in the attack on the World Trade Center.
“I knew him as someone who had lost employees he knew closely, including my brother,” Clinton said.
Mr. Mace repeatedly made remarks about Mr. Clinton trying to answer questions about her fundraising efforts, to which Mr. Clinton responded, “You asked the question, so I’m going to answer your question!”
On March 3, Lutnick agreed to transcribe an interview with the commission about his relationship with Epstein.
Contributed by: Reuters
