Video of Clintons' Epstein testimony released by House committee

Washington — The House Oversight Committee on Monday released video of last week’s depositions with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Hillary Clinton testified Thursday, while Bill Clinton appeared before the committee a day later.

The video of Bill Clinton’s testimony is 4 hours and 33 minutes. Hillary Clinton’s testimony is 4 hours and 35 minutes.

The depositions took place behind closed doors in Chappaqua, New York, the Clintons’ hometown. It capped what Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the Republican chairman of the committee, described as a lengthy effort to secure testimony from the couple about their knowledge of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is in prison on sex trafficking charges.

Watch Bill Clinton’s Epstein deposition

Watch Hillary Clinton’s deposition

The Clintons have repeatedly said that they had no knowledge of Epstein or Maxwell’s crimes. Both Clintons released their opening statements to the committee before their testimony.

The video shows the former president strayed from his prepared remarks during the deposition. He said there’s a photo of him and his wife shaking hands with Epstein during a photo line for a White House Historical Association fundraiser in 1993.

“Neither she nor I remembered shaking his hand all those years ago,” he said, chiding the committee for bringing in his wife for questioning. “So I don’t think that was right. On the other hand, I do think you should be talking to me. I think you should have called me. I did take those plane trips with him, and you have a right to ask those questions.”

Hillary Clinton told the committee she did not recall ever meeting Epstein, but noted that in preparation for the testimony she was made aware that he had attended an event at the White House.

“I knew nothing about him,” she said.

During his questioning, Bill Clinton said his first memory of meeting Epstein was in 2002 during a flight he took on his plane. The former president testified that he took four or five flights on Epstein’s plane to Asia, Africa and northern Europe for his philanthropic work through the Clinton Foundation. He was also once offered a ride from Florida to New York, though he and Epstein were in Florida for different reasons, he said. Hillary Clinton called it “unfortunate” that her husband had flown on Epstein’s plane and said she wishes he hadn’t done so.

Bill Clinton’s relationship with Epstein ended in 2003, he said, because there were other donors whom Bill Clinton knew better and who cared more about the foundation’s work.

“I thought Mr. Epstein was an interesting man, but I didn’t think he was really interested in what I was doing,” he testified, adding that he tries not to overstay his welcome with donors.

He said it had been 10 or 12 years since he last saw Maxwell, who had been in a relationship with a mutual friend.

Bill Clinton confirmed he wrote a letter to Epstein that was included in a book for the disgraced financier’s 50th birthday. He said he did not remember why he contributed, but said it was likely at the request of his staff. Bill Clinton was also shown a copy of a get-well-soon note he apparently wrote to Epstein’s mother in 1995. The former president said it looked like his handwriting, but he did not recall writing it or ever meeting Epstein’s family.

Bill Clinton denied ever having sexual activity with anyone introduced to him by Maxwell, visiting Epstein’s private island in the Virgin Islands, having an interest in underage girls or ever witnessing any sexual abuse during his overseas trips on Epstein’s plane.

Bill Clinton also recounted a conversation he had with President Trump at a golf fundraiser in the early 2000s. Bill Clinton said he remembered Mr. Trump bringing up Epstein unprompted, possibly because he knew the former president had flown on Epstein’s plane. Bill Clinton said he did not think Mr. Trump was implying anything sexual.

“And he said, ‘You know, we had some great times together over the years, but we fell out all because of a real estate deal.’ And he said, ‘I’m sorry it happened.’ That’s all.”

Throughout her testimony, the former secretary of state was engaged in a couple heated exchanges with Republican congresswomen.

One instance stemmed from GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert leaking a photo of the deposition to a right-wing commentator, a violation of the ground rules for the deposition. A lawyer for Hillary Clinton interjected questioning to note the leak of the photo.

“I’m done with this! If you guys are doing that, I am done. You can hold me in contempt from now until the cows come home. This is just typical behavior,” Hillary Clinton said, getting up from her seat. “I’m done for now.”

The deposition then took a brief pause.

In a later moment, Hillary Clinton sparred with Rep. Nancy Mace when the South Carolina Republican asked how she knew Howard Lutnick, who is now Mr. Trump’s Commerce secretary. The exchange spiraled as Hillary Clinton recalled Lutnick leading financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which lost hundreds of employees in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. At the time, she was a New York senator.

“I know that,” Mace is heard saying.

“You asked the question, I’m going to answer your question,” Hillary Clinton shot back. “This was what I spent my time doing.”

Mace said there’s an email from Lutnick to Epstein about an “intimate event” for Hillary Clinton at Cantor Fitzgerald and accused Hillary Clinton of trying to “obfuscate” by denying that she ever tried to get money from Epstein.

“You want to yell at me, that’s fine, but I’ll yell right back,” Mace said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.