Former President Bill Clinton Testifies on Epstein Ties: ‘I Saw Nothing Wrong’
By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com
February 28, 2026
In a historic and highly anticipated appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, former President Bill Clinton testified under oath for more than four hours on Friday regarding his documented associations with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The session—conducted in a closed-door setting before being partially released in transcript form—marked the first time Clinton has publicly addressed the matter under subpoena since new batches of unsealed court documents and flight logs reignited scrutiny in late 2025.
Clinton, now 79, appeared composed throughout the proceeding, repeatedly asserting that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities during the period of their acquaintance and insisting he “saw nothing wrong” at the time. “I never witnessed any inappropriate behavior, never heard any suggestion of illegal conduct, and certainly never participated in anything of the kind,” Clinton stated in his opening remarks. “My interactions with Mr. Epstein were limited, social in nature, and ended long before his crimes became public.”
The former president acknowledged traveling on Epstein’s private jet—the so-called “Lolita Express”—on at least four occasions between 2002 and 2003, including trips to Europe and Africa in connection with Clinton Foundation initiatives focused on global health and economic development. He emphasized that Secret Service agents accompanied him on every flight and that Chelsea Clinton and several Foundation staff were also present on some journeys. Flight logs entered into evidence confirmed Clinton’s presence on the aircraft but showed no trips to Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, a detail Republicans pressed him to reiterate multiple times.
Committee members from both parties focused heavily on a series of photographs, emails, and witness statements that have surfaced in civil litigation and recent document releases. Clinton was questioned about a 2002 photograph showing him receiving a neck massage from Chauntae Davies, one of Epstein’s accusers, aboard the plane. He described the image as a “momentary, light-hearted interaction” during a long flight and said he had no recollection of any discomfort or impropriety. “People give neck rubs on long flights all the time,” he remarked. “There was nothing untoward about it.”
Democrats on the committee largely framed the hearing as a politically motivated spectacle, arguing that no new evidence had emerged linking Clinton to Epstein’s criminal conduct and that the former president had voluntarily cooperated with federal investigators years earlier. Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) noted that Clinton had already been interviewed by the FBI in 2019 and provided documents at that time, calling today’s session “old wine in new bottles for partisan gain.”
Republicans, led by Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), took a more aggressive posture, repeatedly pressing Clinton on whether he believed Epstein’s victims and why he continued associating with the financier after Epstein’s 2008 conviction in Florida. They highlighted messages from Epstein’s former scheduler, Doug Band, suggesting Clinton enjoyed the social perks of the relationship, including access to Epstein’s plane and properties. Clinton maintained that his post-2008 contact with Epstein was “minimal and strictly professional” through Foundation channels.
A particularly tense exchange occurred when Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) asked Clinton directly if he regretted not cutting ties sooner. “Hindsight is always 20/20,” Clinton replied. “If I had known then what we all know now, of course I would have acted differently. But I did not know.”
The hearing concluded without major new revelations, though several committee members indicated they would release additional portions of the transcript and exhibits in the coming days. Outside the Capitol, protesters from both sides gathered—some holding signs demanding accountability for all Epstein associates, others accusing Republicans of weaponizing the tragedy for political purposes.
The testimony arrives amid a broader revival of interest in the Epstein case following Judge Loretta Preska’s December 2025 order to unseal hundreds more pages of documents from the Virginia Giuffre defamation lawsuit. Those filings named dozens of high-profile figures but contained no smoking-gun evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Clinton or several other prominent individuals repeatedly mentioned in connection with Epstein.
Legal experts note that Clinton faces no active criminal investigation related to Epstein and has never been accused of sexual misconduct in connection with the financier. Still, Friday’s hearing is likely to fuel ongoing media coverage and partisan debate, particularly as the 2026 midterm election cycle intensifies.
Clinton departed the Capitol without speaking to reporters, issuing only a brief written statement through his office: “I answered every question truthfully and completely. My hope is that we can now focus on supporting victims and preventing future abuses rather than relitigating settled matters.”
As the transcript is gradually made public and reactions continue to pour in from across the political spectrum, the long shadow of Jeffrey Epstein remains one of the most polarizing and unresolved chapters in recent American history.
Juba Global News Network will continue to analyze the released documents and any follow-up developments. Full coverage and key excerpts available at JubaGlobal.com.
By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com
