Washington : Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told U.S. House lawmakers that she had no knowledge of the criminal activities of late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Her remarks came on the first day of depositions before a House committee, proceedings that are also expected to include testimony from former President Bill Clinton.
In an opening statement shared on social media, Clinton said, “I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein.”
She further alleged that the Republican-led panel was attempting to divert attention from current President Donald Trump and his alleged ties to Epstein.
“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,” Clinton said in her statement.
The Epstein case has remained a contentious issue in U.S. politics for years, with scrutiny extending to several high-profile figures. Clinton’s testimony has once again intensified the political debate surrounding the matter.