Bill Clinton has addressed questions about the disputed “hot tub photo” that appeared in materials linked to the Epstein files during testimony on Friday (February 27).
The 42nd president gave evidence during a private, closed-door deposition in New York for the House of Representatives’ oversight committee. Hillary Clinton was also deposed earlier in the week on Thursday (February 26).
In the session, Clinton was questioned about the identity of the woman pictured with him in the hot tub image that was circulated as part of the Epstein-related documents.
He denied having any sexual relationship with the woman and said he did not know who she was.
Hillary Clinton, speaking to reporters earlier this month, said the image was taken while they were on what she described as a charitable trip.
The document set also included other images, such as one showing Clinton in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell and an unidentified woman, along with another photo in which his arm is around a woman’s waist while she sits on his seat. The location of that image has not been confirmed.
Clinton was repeatedly asked about the photos and his past connection to Jeffrey Epstein during the roughly six-hour deposition at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center.
Speaking during the deposition, Clinton said: “I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong.
“Even with 20/20 hindsight, I saw nothing that gave me pause.”
He also criticized the decision to bring Hillary Clinton in for questioning, saying: “But before we start, I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing.
“Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right.”
Clinton argued that Epstein’s alleged conduct remained concealed for years, which he said helped explain how the crimes went undetected by others for so long. He said: “We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long. And by the time it came to light with his 2008 guilty plea, I had long stopped associating with him.”
He also warned that some of his responses could fall short of what investigators hoped to hear because he could not remember every detail, adding: “This was all a long time ago. And I am bound by my oath not to speculate, or to guess.
“This is not merely for my benefit, but because it doesn’t help you for me to play detective 24 years later.”
Commenting on Clinton being deposed, Donald Trump said outside The White House: “I like him
“I don’t like seeing him deposed, but they certainly went after me.”
Clinton is the first former US president to be required to give compelled testimony in this way.