Former US President Bill Clinton testified that he was unaware of the sexual crimes committed by the late Jeffrey Epstein, according to a video released by a US congressional committee on Monday.
The recorded depositions, conducted under oath, took place over two days last week before the House of Representatives Oversight Committee.
During his testimony, Clinton stated that he had distanced himself from Epstein years prior to the convicted sex offender’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
Clinton recounted that he first met Epstein in 2002 when he boarded the financier’s private jet for humanitarian work associated with the Clintons, but their relationship deteriorated a year later.
“There’s nothing that I saw when I was around him that made me realize he was trafficking women,” he told the committee.
In a related statement, Hillary Clinton mentioned that she does not even recall meeting Epstein.
The Clintons’ depositions come amid increasing calls for accountability regarding the Epstein files; however, they have not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Clinton also recalled a conversation with Donald Trump prior to his presidency, in which Trump mentioned having “some great times” with Epstein.
“Somehow, [Donald Trump] knew I had flown in Jeffrey Epstein’s aircraft,” Clinton said. “He said, ‘You know, we had some great times together over the years, but we fell out all because of a real estate deal.’
He added that Trump never indicated to him any involvement in improper activities related to Epstein.
Both Clinton and Trump acknowledged their past associations with Epstein, which occurred before the financier’s guilty plea in 2008. They have consistently stated that they did not witness any evidence of sex trafficking.
