Clinton insists he had 'no idea' about Epstein's crimes

by · Mail Online

Bill Clinton last night told US investigators he had no idea about Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes, insisting: 'I saw nothing, I did nothing wrong.'

The former American president also warned members of the House Oversight Committee that he did not recall much about his 'brief acquaintance' with the late paedophile financier, saying he would not speculate or 'play detective'.

Photographs of Mr Clinton, 79, are among the millions of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice over the past year.

In one, apparently on board a private jet, he is seen grinning with a young woman on his lap.

In another he is reclining in a hot tub beside a woman whose face is redacted. Others show him looking relaxed with Epstein.

Records also show that Epstein, who trafficked and sexually exploited dozens of women and underage girls, visited the White House 17 times between 1993 to 1995, when Mr Clinton was the president.

Mr Clinton has always strongly denied any misconduct, and his appearance in the Epstein files does not imply any wrongdoing.

In his opening remarks to the investigating committee yesterday, he said: 'The girls and women whose lives Jeffrey Epstein destroyed deserve not only justice, but healing. They've been waiting too long for both.

Former President Bill Clinton pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in an image released by the US Department of Justice
In another image former President Clinton is pictured in a swimming pool with Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Epstein's
A young girl is sat with former President Clinton on what appears to be an aeroplane

'Though my brief acquaintance with Epstein ended years before his crimes came to light, and though I never witnessed during our limited interactions any indication of what was truly going on, I am here to offer what little I know so it might prevent anything like this from ever happening again.'

Mr Clinton added: 'I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing.

'No matter how many photos you show me, I have two things that at the end of the day matter more than your interpretation of those 20-year-old photos. I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didn't see.

'I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn't do. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong.'

He warned that members would frequently hear him say 'I do not recall', adding: 'I am bound by my oath not to speculate or to guess.

This is not merely for my benefit, but because it doesn't help you for me to play detective 24 years later.'

Mr Clinton said Epstein hid his crimes 'so well for so long', and that 'as someone who grew up in a home with domestic abuse' he would never have flown on his plane if he 'had any inkling of what he was doing'.

He added: 'I would have turned him in myself.'

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The former president was also pictured with Maxwell and singer Mick Jagger at a dinner table
Former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was deposed by the US House Oversight Committee on Thursday over the Epstein files

Mr Clinton gave his evidence behind closed doors at an arts centre near his home in Chappaqua, New York state, a day after his wife Hillary testified for six hours.

She criticised the probe's attention on her as a 'fishing expedition' and accused Republicans of using her to distract attention from Donald Trump.

Republican committee member Nancy Mace later claimed Mrs Clinton was 'screaming' and 'unhinged' in parts of her questioning.

The former first lady's spokesman Nick Merrill last night said Ms Mace was 'full of s***'.

Oversight committee chairman James Comer said Mrs Clinton deferred at least a dozen questions to her husband, saying he would face some 'hard questions'.

It is not the first time for Mr Clinton, president from 1993 to 2001, to face embarrassing scrutiny of his private life.

He was impeached during his second term over an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, famously declaring: 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman.'

Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the oversight committee, called on Mr Trump and first lady Melania Trump to testify under oath.

'The House Republicans have set a new precedent, and that now includes bringing in for depositions presidents, former presidents and first ladies,' he said.

He added that Mr Trump must explain 'why files are missing, why there has been a White House cover-up, and why he continues to call this investigation a 'hoax'.

Mr Trump has denied he was friends with Epstein, insisting the files 'completely exonerate' him.

Speaking during a break in proceedings last night, Mr Comer said Mr Clinton was asked if President Trump should be called to answer questions. He cited Mr Clinton as saying: 'That's for you to decide.'