Washington DC, February 27 — Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee she had no knowledge of the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, saying she had “nothing to add” beyond a sworn statement she made on January 13.
Clinton released her opening statement on X before delivering testimony. In the statement dated February 26, 2026, she said the committee’s subpoena rested on the assumption that she held information about investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. “Let me be as clear as I can. I do not,” she wrote. She reiterated that she “had no idea about their criminal activities,” did not recall meeting Epstein, never flew on his plane, and never visited his island, homes or offices.
Clinton provided more than six hours of closed-door testimony in Chappaqua, New York, after prolonged legal disputes between the Clintons and the Republican-led committee. She expressed outrage at the scale of Epstein’s crimes and condemned the 2008 plea deal that she said allowed him to continue predatory conduct for another decade.
She sharply criticized the committee’s investigation as partisan and lacking transparency, calling it “political theatre” and an “abdication of duty.” Clinton noted that eight law enforcement officials had been subpoenaed but only one appeared in person; others submitted brief statements. She also said the committee held no public hearings and denied media access.
“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,” she said, adding that her “heart breaks for the survivors” and that she was “furious on their behalf.”
Highlighting her anti-trafficking record, Clinton said her work began as First Lady supporting the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and continued as Secretary of State when she appointed former federal prosecutor Lou CdeBaca to boost global anti-trafficking efforts. She said her office oversaw nearly 170 programs in 70 countries and, in 2011, insisted the United States be included in the trafficking report for the first time.
Clinton accused the Trump administration of weakening US anti-trafficking priorities, calling the shift “a tragedy” and “a scandal” that warranted investigation and oversight.
She also criticized the committee for not directly subpoenaing President Donald Trump. “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; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files,” she said.
Clinton closed by urging lawmakers to put survivors ahead of politics and to use their authority to find the truth and expand help for victims of Epstein and the broader population affected by sex trafficking.
According to CBS News, Clinton’s January 13 sworn declaration denied any “personal knowledge” of crimes by Epstein or Maxwell and said she never had responsibility for or involvement with Justice Department investigations or prosecutions related to them during her public service or as a private citizen.
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
