2:22In this Aug. 1, 2024, file photo, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are depicted at an event in Houston.LM Otero/AP, FILE
On Wednesday, the Clintons reaffirmed their commitment to push back as Rep. James Comer and other Republican members of Congress pledged to seek contempt of Congress charges against the former president and former secretary of State for disregarding subpoenas in the committee’s Epstein inquiry.
The Clintons’ statement follows the release of a harsh letter directed at Comer, asserting that “now is the moment” to “stand up for this country” and condemning Comer’s actions as “partisan politics.”
Additionally, Comer has declared intentions to hold both Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress during the upcoming proceedings, stating that the former secretary of State “joined her husband in ignoring a bipartisan, lawful congressional subpoena to appear today.”
In this Aug. 1, 2024, file photo, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are depicted at an event in Houston.LM Otero/AP, FILE
On Wednesday — via a press release from the former president’s office — the Clintons asserted they have gone “above and beyond” what has been requested of others by the committee, providing what they describe as “comprehensive” sworn statements detailing “everything they have to offer” regarding Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
“You likely don’t know this because James Comer prefers you to remain unaware,” the statement reads. “President and Secretary Clinton swore to tell the truth under penalty of perjury. James Comer has not informed you of this and has instead resorted to falsehoods in every appearance he has made this week.”
“We are countering with facts and accountability,” the statement continues. “He is lying without consequence.”
The former president’s office also made public the written declarations — dated Jan. 13 from each of the Clintons — which they claim were submitted to the Oversight Committee.
The declarations — featuring seven bullet-pointed paragraphs each — conclude with the statement: “I declare under penalty of perjury that the preceding is true and correct.”
Both Clintons — in their written statements — assert they have no personal knowledge of the criminal actions of Epstein and Maxwell. They both deny ever visiting Epstein’s private estate in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The former president acknowledges in his declaration that Epstein “may well have attended” events at the White House during Clinton’s two terms and might have been among the “tens of thousands” of individuals photographed with him. However, Clinton stated he does “not recall meeting Mr. Epstein, or any specific interaction with him, during his time in office.”
Each of the Clintons maintain that they had no connection — whether in office or afterward — to any criminal investigations or prosecutions of Epstein or Maxwell.
“I did not direct, supervise or take part in the management of the investigations or prosecutions of the Epstein or Maxwell cases,” both Clintons assert in their declarations.
Both Clintons also mention they cannot remember the circumstances surrounding their meeting with Maxwell — but recall that she later “started a personal relationship with a mutual friend.”
“To clarify, I had no awareness of Mr. Epstein’s or Ms. Maxwell’s criminal actions,” former President Clinton wrote. “And, regardless of any intent they might have had, I did not take any steps to assist them in evading scrutiny.”
Hillary Rodham Clinton stated in her declaration, “During my time in public office, from 1993 to 2013, I never had any responsibility for, or involvement with, the Department of Justice’s handling of the Epstein and Maxwell investigations or prosecutions.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com