Former President Bill Clinton testified under subpoena to the House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York, as part of the panel’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, and lawmakers and congressional historians said the committee’s ability to compel testimony from a former president could establish a new precedent.
Clinton’s appearance followed a closed-door deposition by former first lady and secretary of state Hillary Clinton the day before. Republicans pointed to past acknowledgments that Bill Clinton knew Epstein and took trips that included him. There are no accusations of wrongdoing against either Clinton in connection with Epstein, according to the committee.
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said it took seven months to secure the Clintons’ testimony and that Hillary Clinton told lawmakers “you’ll have to ask my husband” more than “a dozen” times. Both depositions were held at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, the Clintons’ local venue north of New York City.
The sessions produced sharp exchanges and partisan reactions. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., said she photographed Hillary Clinton during her deposition and shared the image with conservative media. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., accused Republicans of treating the process as a “photo op” and called the proceeding “an incredibly unserious, clown show.” Hillary Clinton told reporters she was asked about UFOs and the debunked “Pizzagate” theory, which proponents falsely claimed Democrats ran a child sex trafficking ring out of a Washington pizzeria and which led to a 2016 shooting at the restaurant.
The broader political implications drew competing reactions. President Trump said he did not like seeing Clinton deposed but added, “I don’t know anything about the Epstein files. I’ve been totally exonerated.” Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the panel’s top Democrat, said the hearings set “a precedent” and urged the committee to seek testimony from Mr. Trump and others. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., said the committee had “spoken to the wrong president.” It was unclear whether the panel will seek testimony from President Trump; Democrats said they might pursue it if they win House control in the fall midterm elections.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
