Former President Bill Clinton released his opening statement Friday ahead of his deposition before the House Oversight Committee, addressing his past relationship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and forcefully defending both himself and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The statement was posted to Clinton’s X account as he appeared before lawmakers in Chappaqua, New York. In his remarks, the former president framed his testimony as a matter of principle and accountability.
“I’m here today for two reasons,” Clinton began. “The first is that I love my country. And America was built upon the idea that no person is above the law, even presidents — especially Presidents.”
Clinton emphasized that his appearance before the committee reflected his belief in that principle, signaling that he understood the gravity of the moment as lawmakers continue to examine the circumstances surrounding Epstein and those who associated with him.
He also pointed to the victims of Epstein’s crimes, underscoring what he described as a moral obligation to speak. “The second reason I’m here is that the girls and women whose lives Jeffrey Epstein destroyed deserve not only justice, but healing,” Clinton said. “They’ve been waiting too long for both.”
The former president maintained that his connection to Epstein was limited and ended long before the financier’s criminal conduct became publicly known. “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 that it might prevent anything like this from ever happening again,” Clinton stated.
Clinton struck a notably defiant tone when addressing the committee’s decision to question his wife, Hillary Clinton, who appeared before lawmakers the previous day. He pushed back strongly against her inclusion in the inquiry.
“I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing,” Clinton said. “She has no memory of even meeting him. She neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties.”
Clinton went further, criticizing the scope of the committee’s subpoenas. “Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right,” he said, signaling clear frustration over the matter.
Turning to his own actions, the former president sought to draw a bright line between association and wrongdoing. “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,” Clinton said. “I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong.”
The deposition marks the latest chapter in Congress’s ongoing examination of Epstein’s network and the individuals who crossed paths with him over the years. Clinton’s statement, delivered with a mix of contrition for victims and firmness about his own conduct, made clear that he intends to contest any suggestion of personal misconduct while expressing support for accountability in the broader case.
As the Oversight Committee continues its work, Clinton’s testimony is likely to remain a focal point in the political and legal fallout from one of the most notorious criminal scandals in recent memory.
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