Bill Clinton on Epstein affair: I did nothing fallacious | EUROtoday

At the tip of the large showdown, the Republicans and Democrats aren’t any additional forward in fixing the Jeffrey Epstein case. Former President Bill Clinton, as anticipated, asserted at Friday’s listening to in Chappaqua, New York, that he noticed nothing and did nothing fallacious.

The Republicans nonetheless spoke of a “historic” questioning of a former president. Committee chairman James Comer emphasised that it was about justice for the victims, which they’d to this point been denied. Democrats reiterated that Clinton had set a precedent. Now Donald Trump should testify about his relationship with the intercourse offender.

Right initially of the questioning by the members of the management committee, Clinton denied any information of Epstein’s crimes in his opening assertion. The 79-year-old Democrat mentioned his acquaintance with Epstein was temporary and ended years earlier than his crimes got here to mild. During his restricted contacts he seen “no signs” of what was truly occurring.

Clinton introduced earlier than the hour-long closed questioning started that members would typically hear him say within the coming hours that he did not bear in mind. That might sound unsatisfactory, however he would not say something beneath oath that he wasn’t certain about. He rejects hypothesis or conjecture – he’ll “not play detective 24 years later.” If he had even a suspicion, he would have reported Epstein to the authorities, as he himself had skilled home violence in his mother and father’ dwelling. The women and girls whose lives Epstein destroyed deserve justice and restoration.

No matter what number of images have been proven to him through the listening to, he had no concept about Epstein’s crimes, mentioned Clinton, referring to the photographs launched by the Justice Department from the investigation recordsdata that present him in Epstein’s scorching tub and swimming pool. During the listening to, in response to contributors, Clinton was additionally requested who the girl subsequent to him within the scorching tub (redacted) was. He did not know that, he mentioned, in response to CNN. When requested whether or not he had had intercourse with the girl, he mentioned no. The transcript of the survey is not going to be printed till later.

Clinton additionally defended his spouse Hillary, who was questioned by the committee on Thursday. She had “nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” by no means traveled with him and by no means visited any of his properties.

After the listening to, the Democrats reiterated their demand that the incumbent president additionally need to testify. Clinton answered “every single question” intimately and didn’t invoke his proper to stay silent, mentioned Democratic Representative Suhas Subramanian. Now Trump should additionally seem beneath oath earlier than the committee as a substitute of simply disseminating statements on social media. Democrats accused the White House of an “ongoing cover-up.” Trump regularly repeats the “lie” that he has been exonerated. According to Democratic lawmakers, the Justice Department is illegally withholding paperwork and has even deleted images and movies, together with these of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The Democrats are contemplating subpoenaing Trump within the new election interval if he wins the election in November. However, the president may enchantment in opposition to this – the constitutional judges shield an incumbent president extra strongly than former ones. Trump additionally spoke up himself: On Friday he expressed his remorse about questioning Bill Clinton. “I like him and I don’t like seeing him testify under oath,” he mentioned in Washington. But he additionally mentioned that he himself had been put beneath considerably extra strain.