'Ask him under oath': Hillary Clinton urges House panel to question Trump over Epstein files

Appearing to testify in connection with the Epstein files, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on Thursday, accused the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee of using her testimony as a distraction to shield President Donald Trump. "The Committee justified its subpoena to me based on its assumption that I have information regarding the investigations into the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell," Clinton said in her opening statement. "Let me be as clear as I can. I do not. As I stated in my sworn declaration on January 13, I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that."

The House Committee hearing comes after months of legal sparring between the Clintons and Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who initially threatened the couple with criminal contempt after they failed to appear for January dates. Clinton characterized the committee's insistence on her testimony as an "abdication of duty and an insult to the American people," arguing that the focus should instead be on the current administration.

"This institutional failure is designed to protect one political party and one public official, rather than to seek truth and justice for the victims and survivors," Clinton said, adding, "Instead, you have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump's actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers. If this Committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein's trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files."

Clinton also criticized the Committee's handling of other witnesses, stating that they "made little effort to call the people who show up most prominently in the Epstein files. And when you did, not a single Republican Member showed up for Les Wexner’s deposition." "I have spent my life advocating for women and girls. I have worked hard to stop the terrible abuses so many women and girls face... but the survivors are real and they are entitled to better," she said.

Comer, on the other hand, said that the committee is seeking to understand how Epstein accumulated his wealth and whether he was a government asset. "No one has accused the Clintons of wrongdoing," he said, adding that the Committee was "trying to understand many things" about how Epstein operated. However, Clinton dismissed the probe as a "fishing expedition." "My challenge to you, Mr. Chairman... is how to be worthy of the trust the American people have given you," she said, "They expect statesmanship, not gamesmanship. Leading, not grandstanding. They expect you to use your power to get to the truth and to do more to help survivors."