Washington, Feb 26, (dpa/GNA) – Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, rejected any knowledge of the misdeeds of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in testimony before a US Congressional committee on Thursday.
She appeared in Chappaqua, a town in the US state of New York where she lives with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, for a closed-door hearing before the US House of Representatives Oversight Committee.
“The Committee justified its subpoena to me based on its assumption that I have information regarding the investigations into the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell,” Clinton said in a written statement issued via social media.
“Let me be as clear as I can. I do not,” she said.
Hillary Clinton added: “As I stated in my sworn declaration on January 13, I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein.”
“I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that,” she said further. “Like every decent person, I have been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes.”
The Republican-led committee had previously threatened criminal proceedings for contempt of Congress.
The closed-door testimony of Hillary Clinton, 78, comes ahead of expected testimony on Friday by her husband and former president Bill Clinton, 79.
Hillary and Bill Clinton refused for months to testify before the US Congress in the investigation of the Epstein case.
In her statement, the former Democratic presidential candidate accused the Republicans of trying to distract attention from US President Donald Trump and his handling of the so-called Epstein files.
“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,” Hillary Clinton asserted.
The Democrats have accused the Republican chairman of the relevant House oversight committee, James Comer, of conducting a politically motivated process.
According to US media reports, their agreement to testify in early February led to the Republicans cancelling a vote on a contempt of Congress procedure against the Clintons.
Bill Clinton’s name and pictures of him appear in documents related to the Epstein investigations. However, a mention in itself means nothing. The former president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with his acquaintance with Epstein.
Epstein operated an abuse ring for years, victimizing dozens of young women and minors. The New York financier had excellent connections in US high society. He died in his prison cell in 2019, before a conviction could have been reached.
GNA