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Photo courtesy of Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused the Trump administration of orchestrating a “continuing cover-up” in the handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as she prepares to testify before Congress later this month.
In an interview released Tuesday by the BBC, Clinton questioned the administration’s approach to the release of records.
“There’s something about this administration’s attitude toward this, which I think really leads us to conclude they have something to hide,” she said. “We don’t. We have been willing to say whatever we know. We’ve even done it under oath.”
Clinton is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 26 for a closed-door deposition as part of the panel’s investigation into Epstein. Former President Bill Clinton is set to testify the following day. Neither has been accused of wrongdoing.
Their depositions follow a months-long dispute with lawmakers, during which the committee recommended holding both Clintons in criminal contempt of Congress for failing to comply with subpoenas. A full House vote on the contempt resolution — expected to draw bipartisan backing — was imminent before the couple agreed to appear under negotiated terms.
Despite agreeing to testify privately, Clinton said she prefers a public proceeding.
“We will show up, but we think it would be better to have it in public,” she told the BBC.
In January, the Clintons submitted sworn declarations outlining their interactions with Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence on sex trafficking charges.
Clinton reiterated that she does not recall ever meeting Epstein and maintained that her husband’s contacts with him were connected to philanthropic work through the Clinton Foundation.
“We have no links. We have a very clear record that we’ve been willing to talk about, which my husband has said he took some rides on the airplane for his charitable work. I don’t recall ever meeting him,” she said.
She added that she met Maxwell “on a few occasions” in connection with foundation activities and described the couple’s knowledge of Epstein and Maxwell as “very limited and totally unrelated to their behavior or their crimes.”
Clinton also accused House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of compelling their depositions “to protect” President Donald Trump, who has been mentioned in Epstein-related files and has denied wrongdoing.
“We have nothing to hide. We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly,” she said. “Get the files out. They are slow-walking it. They are redacting the names of men who are in it. They are stonewalling legitimate requests from members of Congress. That has nothing to do with us. Something is going on. They know it. I know it.”
She warned that lawmakers may be displeased with her testimony if it proceeds privately.
“I have very strong opinions about what it is they’re hiding and who they are protecting,” she said. “Why do they want to pull us into this? To divert attention from President Trump. This is not complicated.”
Asked Monday about Clinton’s allegation that she and her husband were being used as a diversion, Trump responded: “I have nothing to hide.”
“I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” he added.
SOURCE: CBS NEWS