Former President Bill Clinton, in his recently released 4–4.5-hour deposition before the House Oversight Committee, expressed doubt that he was targeted as part of any intelligence operation connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
The footage, made public Monday by the Republican-led committee as part of its probe into Epstein’s crimes and federal handling of related investigations, shows Clinton repeatedly denying knowledge of Epstein’s wrongdoing prior to his 2008 Florida plea and distancing himself from any deeper entanglement.
While persistent speculation and past reporting have raised questions about Epstein’s sources of wealth, influence, and possible intelligence ties (including unproven theories involving foreign agencies), Clinton rejected the notion of being specifically targeted or compromised in such a scheme during the questioning. He emphasized he never witnessed Epstein’s abuse and would have reported it if aware. No evidence of wrongdoing by Clinton has emerged from the probe.
“I don’t…I doubt it,” Clinton said when asked if he knew whether he was targeted.
Clinton did not deny taking multiple trips on Epstein’s private plane, “26 times or more,” said U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) during her questioning of Clinton.
Clinton confirmed, “I did take those plane trips with him, and you have the right to ask those questions.” He denied, however, ever visiting Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, answering “No” when asked directly.
The deposition followed a standoff with House Republicans. In February, Bill and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed to appear before the committee after the House postponed a potential vote to hold them in criminal contempt of Congress. Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky) had issued subpoenas in August, citing what he described as a potentially close relationship between Clinton and Epstein.
Epstein, a financier who died in jail in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking minors, has long been the subject of speculation about how he amassed his wealth and cultivated ties to powerful figures. Investigative journalist Vicky Ward, who profiled Epstein in 2003, said “The math has never added up” regarding his finances and described “a lot of mystery and secrecy” surrounding his money, according to an interview broadcast by NPR.
Clinton described his relationship with Epstein as “cordial” and said, “We were friendly, but I didn’t know him well enough to say we were friends.”
Neither of the Clintons has been charged with any crime related to Epstein.
