Former President Bill Clinton told lawmakers Friday that he “saw nothing that gave me pause” during the time he spent with Jeffrey Epstein, offering closed-door testimony to congressional investigators examining his relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender.
Clinton appeared before members of the House Oversight Committee as part of an ongoing inquiry into Epstein’s associations and the broader network of individuals connected to him prior to his 2019 death.
In a prepared statement submitted to the committee, Clinton said he would not have flown on Epstein’s private plane if he had known about allegations that Epstein was engaged in sex trafficking of underage girls.
“I saw nothing that gave me pause at the time,” Clinton said in the statement. “Had I known of any criminal activity, I would not have traveled with him and would have reported it to the appropriate authorities.”
Closed-Door Testimony
The testimony was conducted behind closed doors, with lawmakers declining to publicly release a full transcript immediately. Committee members have been investigating Epstein’s contacts with political, business, and cultural figures, seeking to determine whether any individuals were aware of or facilitated criminal conduct.
Clinton has previously acknowledged traveling on Epstein’s plane in the early 2000s for philanthropic trips connected to global development initiatives but has denied any knowledge of wrongdoing.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and later died in jail while awaiting trial. His case has fueled years of investigations, lawsuits, and public scrutiny involving prominent figures who associated with him.
Ongoing Inquiry
Lawmakers on the committee have indicated that the investigation is continuing and that additional witnesses may be called. The scope of the inquiry includes Epstein’s business dealings, social network, and potential failures by institutions to identify or act on warning signs.
Clinton reiterated in his statement that he had no prior knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct and that, had he been aware, he would have taken action.
The Oversight Committee has not yet announced whether further public hearings will follow.
By DNU Staff