Bill Clinton Denies Wrongdoing in Testimony Before House Committee

Former President Bill Clinton testified before the House Oversight Committee on Friday, February 27, 2026, stating he had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and maintained he “did nothing wrong” in his relationship with the convicted sex offender. The testimony marks the first time a former U.S. President has been compelled to testify before Congress according to the Associated Press.

Key Points from Clinton’s Testimony

Clinton asserted he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities. “I had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing,” he stated in his opening remarks as reported by USA Today. He claimed to have severed ties with Epstein before allegations of abuse surfaced, specifically before 2008 when Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida.

The former president emphasized his willingness to cooperate with the inquiry, stating he testified given that “I love my country.” He added, “America was built on the idea that no one, not even the president, and especially the president, is above the law” .

Context of the Inquiry

The House Oversight Committee is investigating how Epstein amassed his wealth and cultivated a network of powerful associates. Lawmakers have focused on Epstein’s numerous visits to the White House during the Clinton administration and Clinton’s subsequent travel on Epstein’s private plane . Epstein visited the White House 17 times whereas Bill Clinton was president and Clinton traveled 27 times on his private plane after leaving office.

Hillary Clinton’s Testimony

The deposition followed a similar testimony from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on February 26, where she stated she had no knowledge of Epstein and never flew on his plane. She described her deposition as a “fishing expedition” .

Committee Response

Republican Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, stated the committee has questions regarding Epstein’s fundraising and connections to influential figures. Representative Anna Paulina Luna noted that Clinton appeared to be “very cooperative” and “transparent” during his testimony according to CBS News.

Bill Clinton acknowledged he might not recall specific details from past interactions, stating he would not “speculate or guess” under oath about events that occurred years ago .