Hillary Clinton testifies that she has no information on Epstein’s criminal activities in House oversight hearing
By Anique Butt4 min read
Before Hillary Clinton’s testimony began, House oversight committee chair James Comer repeatedly said that the probe was not partisan in nature.
When asked whether the committee would bring in commerce secretary Howard Lutnick for questioning, Comer said it was “very possible” and that there was a “good possibility” that Lutnick’s name would arise during questioning today. Lutnick has been tied to Epstein and has admitted he had lunch with Epstein on his private island.
Comer noted that Republicans tied to the Trump administration have already been brought in for questioning, including former labor secretary Alex Acosta and former attorney general Bill Barr.
Anyone who has knowledge of Epstein and the investigation is of interest to the committee, he said.
I think we all agree the government failed. The government failed the victims, and what our role is, we can’t prosecute anymore, but what we have been doing is getting transparency to the American people. We’re seeing accountability, but we have a desire to see a lot more accountability. We want to get the answers, and hopefully the next two days will be a step in the right direction.
Comer said that it’s clear from all the Epstein documents that Ghislaine Maxwell was his main co-conspirator. The Clintons’ relationship with Maxwell, and Epstein’s financial giving to Clinton-related initiatives, will be part of the questioning, he said, including the fact that Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding.
“Again, that’s not saying anything illegal, but there are a lot of questions pertaining to Secretary Clinton,” he said.
Throughout her opening statement, Hillary Clinton detailed the work she has done to protect women and girls and against human trafficking over decades of her career, in multiple public roles.
Jeffrey Epstein was a “heinous individual” but he was “far from alone”. She then implored the committee to actually investigate without a partisan lens - including bringing in Donald Trump for questioning.
From her statement:
A committee endeavoring to stopping human trafficking would seek to understand what specific steps are needed to fix a system that allowed Epstein to get away with his crimes in 2008.
A committee run by elected officials with a commitment to transparency would ensure the full release of all the files.
It would ensure that the lawful redactions of those files protected the victims and survivors, not powerful men and political allies.
It would get to the bottom of reports that DOJ withheld FBI interviews in which a survivor accuses President Trump of heinous crimes.
It would subpoena anyone who asked on which night there would be the ‘wildest party’ on Epstein’s island.
It would demand testimony from prosecutors in Florida and New York about why they gave Epstein a sweetheart deal and chose not to pursue others who may have been implicated.
It would demand that Secretary Rubio and Attorney General Bondi testify about why this administration is abandoning survivors and playing into the hands of traffickers.
It would seek out officers on the front lines of this fight and ask them what support they need.
It would put forth legislation to provide more resources and force this administration to act.
But that’s not happening.
Instead, you have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.
If this Committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files.
If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done.
What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?
My challenge to you, Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, is the same challenge I put to myself throughout my long service to this nation. How to be worthy of the trust the American people have given you. They expect statesmanship, not gamesmanship. Leading, not grandstanding. They expect you to use your power to get to the truth and to do more to help survivors of Epstein’s crimes as well as the millions more who are victims of sex trafficking.
When asked whether the committee would bring in commerce secretary Howard Lutnick for questioning, Comer said it was “very possible” and that there was a “good possibility” that Lutnick’s name would arise during questioning today. Lutnick has been tied to Epstein and has admitted he had lunch with Epstein on his private island.
Comer noted that Republicans tied to the Trump administration have already been brought in for questioning, including former labor secretary Alex Acosta and former attorney general Bill Barr.
Anyone who has knowledge of Epstein and the investigation is of interest to the committee, he said.
I think we all agree the government failed. The government failed the victims, and what our role is, we can’t prosecute anymore, but what we have been doing is getting transparency to the American people. We’re seeing accountability, but we have a desire to see a lot more accountability. We want to get the answers, and hopefully the next two days will be a step in the right direction.
Comer said that it’s clear from all the Epstein documents that Ghislaine Maxwell was his main co-conspirator. The Clintons’ relationship with Maxwell, and Epstein’s financial giving to Clinton-related initiatives, will be part of the questioning, he said, including the fact that Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding.
“Again, that’s not saying anything illegal, but there are a lot of questions pertaining to Secretary Clinton,” he said.
Throughout her opening statement, Hillary Clinton detailed the work she has done to protect women and girls and against human trafficking over decades of her career, in multiple public roles.
Jeffrey Epstein was a “heinous individual” but he was “far from alone”. She then implored the committee to actually investigate without a partisan lens - including bringing in Donald Trump for questioning.
From her statement:
A committee endeavoring to stopping human trafficking would seek to understand what specific steps are needed to fix a system that allowed Epstein to get away with his crimes in 2008.
A committee run by elected officials with a commitment to transparency would ensure the full release of all the files.
It would ensure that the lawful redactions of those files protected the victims and survivors, not powerful men and political allies.
It would get to the bottom of reports that DOJ withheld FBI interviews in which a survivor accuses President Trump of heinous crimes.
It would subpoena anyone who asked on which night there would be the ‘wildest party’ on Epstein’s island.
It would demand testimony from prosecutors in Florida and New York about why they gave Epstein a sweetheart deal and chose not to pursue others who may have been implicated.
It would demand that Secretary Rubio and Attorney General Bondi testify about why this administration is abandoning survivors and playing into the hands of traffickers.
It would seek out officers on the front lines of this fight and ask them what support they need.
It would put forth legislation to provide more resources and force this administration to act.
But that’s not happening.
Instead, you have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.
If this Committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files.
If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done.
What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?
My challenge to you, Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, is the same challenge I put to myself throughout my long service to this nation. How to be worthy of the trust the American people have given you. They expect statesmanship, not gamesmanship. Leading, not grandstanding. They expect you to use your power to get to the truth and to do more to help survivors of Epstein’s crimes as well as the millions more who are victims of sex trafficking.
