Featured Image Credit: Department of Justice
Topics: US News, News, Jeffrey Epstein, Politics
Lucy Devine
Topics: US News, News, Jeffrey Epstein, Politics
Bill Clinton has spoken about the controversial 'hot tub photo' published in the Epstein files during the deposition on Friday (February 27).
The 42nd POTUS testified in a closed-door deposition in New York before the House of Representatives' oversight committee, with his wife, Hillary, previously giving her own deposition on Thursday (February 26).
During the deposition, Clinton was asked about the nature of his relationship with the female in the hot tub image, which was published in the Epstein files.
Clinton denied having sexual relations with the woman and said he was not aware who she was.
Advert
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters earlier this month, Hillary claimed the photo was taken during a charitable trip.
Other photos from the files included Clinton swimming in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell, with an unidentified woman, as well as a separate image in which Clinton has his arm around a woman's waist while she perched on his seat. It is not clear where the photo was taken.
Clinton was pressed on the photos, as well as his relationship with Epstein, during the six-hour deposition at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center.
Speaking at the deposition, Clinton said: “I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong.
“Even with 20/20 hindsight, I saw nothing that gave me pause.”
Clinton also addressed Hillary's deposition, adding: “But before we start, I have to get personal. You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing.
“Whether you subpoenaed 10 people or 10,000, including her was simply not right.”
The former president told the gathered politicians that Epstein's ability to conceal his crimes from others was part of how he evaded the law for so long, as he continued: “We are only here because he hid it from everyone so well for so long. And by the time it came to light with his 2008 guilty plea, I had long stopped associating with him.”
However, he also added that his answers might be 'unsatisfying' as he simply did not recall all the details, as he said: "This was all a long time ago. And I am bound by my oath not to speculate, or to guess.
"This is not merely for my benefit, but because it doesn’t help you for me to play detective 24 years later."
Speaking about Clinton testifying, Trump said outside The White House: "I like him
"I don't like seeing him deposed, but they certainly went after me."
Clinton is the first former president to be compelled to testify.