Latest news with #Hillary Clinton
Sky News
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Bill and Hillary Clinton subpoenaed in Jeffrey Epstein probe
The US House Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas for depositions with former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton relating to the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The Republican-controlled committee also subpoenaed the Justice Department for files relating to the paedophile financier, as well as eight former top law enforcement officials. Donald Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein 's crimes, claiming he ended their relationship a long time ago. The US president has repeatedly tried to draw a line under the Justice Department's decision not to release a full accounting of the investigation, but politicians from both major political parties, as well as many in Mr Trump's political base, have refused to drop their interest in the Epstein files. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and since then, conspiracy theories have swirled about what information investigators gathered on him and who else may have been involved in his crimes. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee initiated the subpoenas for the Clintons last month, as well as demanding all communications between former president Joe Biden's Democrat administration and the Justice Department about Epstein. The committee previously issued a subpoena for an interview with Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who had been serving a prison sentence in Florida for luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. She was recently transferred to another facility in Texas. Mr Clinton was among those acquainted with Epstein before the criminal investigation against him in Florida became public two decades ago. He has never been accused of wrongdoing by any of the women who say Epstein abused them. Mr Clinton previously said, through a spokesperson, that while he travelled on Epstein's jet, he never visited his homes and had no knowledge of his crimes. It is rare for congressional oversight to subpoena a former US President David Blevins US correspondent @skydavidblevins The subpoenaing of former president Bill Clinton is an escalation, both legally and politically. Historically, it is rare for congressional oversight to demand deposition from former presidents of the United States. Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend and accomplice, had already been summonsed. But the House Oversight Committee has now added Bill and Hillary Clinton, several former Attorneys General and former FBI directors to its list. It signals bipartisan momentum – Democrats voting with Republicans for transparency. The committee will now hear from several people with known ties to Epstein, his connection with Bill Clinton having been well-documented. But the subpoenas set up a potential clash between Congress and the Department of Justice. Donald Trump, the candidate, had vowed to release them. A government led by Mr Trump, the president, chose not to. If Attorney General Pam Bondi still refuses to release the files, it will fuel claims of a constitutional crisis in the United States. But another day of Epstein headlines demonstrates the enduring public interest in this case. The subpoenas give the Justice Department until 19 August to hand over the requested records. The committee is also asking the former officials to appear for depositions throughout August, September and October, concluding with Hillary Clinton on 9 October and Bill Clinton on 14 October. Although several former presidents, including Mr Trump, have been issued congressional subpoenas, none has ever appeared before members under compulsion. Last month, Mr Trump instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release information presented to the grand jury that indicted Maxwell for helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls.
South China Morning Post
05-08-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
US House committee subpoenas Bill and Hillary Clinton in Epstein probe
The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department on Tuesday for files in the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, part of a congressional investigation that lawmakers believe may show links to President Donald Trump and other former top officials. Advertisement The Republican-controlled committee also issued subpoenas for depositions with former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and eight former top law enforcement officials. The committee's actions showed how even with lawmakers away from Washington on a month-long break, interest in the Epstein files is still running high. Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago, and he has repeatedly tried to move past the Justice Department's decision not to release a full accounting of the investigation. But lawmakers from both major political parties, and many in the Republican president's political base, have refused to let it go. British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and US financier Jeffrey Epstein are seen in a photo at Queen Elizabeth'ss log cabin at Balmoral. Photo: US District Court for the Southern District of New York/AFP Since Epstein's 2019 death in a New York jail cell as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges, conservative conspiracists have stoked theories about what information investigators gathered on Epstein – and who else could have been involved. Republican lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee nodded to that line of questioning last month by initiating subpoenas for the Clintons, both Democrats, and demanding all communications between President Joe Biden's Democratic administration and the Justice Department regarding Epstein. The committee is also demanding interviews under oath from former attorneys general spanning the last three presidential administrations: Merrick Garland, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder and Alberto Gonzales. Lawmakers also subpoenaed former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller. However, it was Democrats who sparked the move to subpoena the Justice Department for its files on Epstein. They were joined by some Republicans to successfully initiate the subpoena through a subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee. A banner of Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump hangs in Grand Park during a protest against federal migration enforcement in downtown Los Angeles on. August 2. Photo: Reuters 'Democrats are focused on transparency and are pushing back against the corruption of Donald Trump,' Representative Robert Garcia, who is the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told reporters last month. 'What is Donald Trump hiding that he won't release the Epstein files?'
