Former US President Bill Clinton denies knowledge of Epstein crimes

WASHINGTON

Former US President Bill Clinton denied any knowledge of wrongdoing by late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"First, 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," Clinton said in a prepared opening statement that he posted on US social media account X.

"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."

Clinton said that because he was raised in a home affected by domestic abuse, he would never have traveled on Epstein’s plane had he suspected any wrongdoing – and instead would have reported him and demanded full accountability rather than "sweetheart deals."

The deposition in New York follows a decision earlier this month by Clinton and his wife former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to comply with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's request and sit for questioning rather than face contempt of Congress proceedings for a previously issued subpoena.

Hillary Clinton had a similar closed-door session on Thursday.

Bill Clinton said his brief acquaintance with Epstein ended years before his crimes came to light.

"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."

He also criticized the committee’s decision to depose Hillary Clinton, saying she “had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein” and no recollection of ever meeting him.

'I don’t like seeing him deposed': Trump

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he does not like seeing Clinton deposed.

"But they certainly went after me more than that,” he said.

"Look, I like him, and I don’t like seeing him deposed,” he added.

US Congressman Robert Garcia on Friday called on Trump to appear before the Committee in its investigation related to Epstein.

The Democrat said Trump appears in the Epstein files next to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell "almost more than anybody else."

Epstein’s case has remained a politically charged issue in the US, with lawmakers and victims’ advocates from across the spectrum demanding greater transparency about his network of associates and any individuals who may have facilitated his crimes.

Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Their past social and business ties, as well as Epstein’s extensive links to political, business and academic figures in the US and abroad, have fueled calls for the broad release of official records.