Former President Bill Clinton deposed in Epstein probe in potential first for Congress
Same show, different day.
Most congressional precedents emanate from Capitol Hill.
Most presidential precedents emerge from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
But a precedent which may echo around the halls of Congress and the White House for years materialized in recent days in the snow-covered, wooded village of Chappaqua, New York.
That’s where former President Bill Clinton testified under subpoena to the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers said the panel’s ability to compel testimony from a former president could establish a new precedent going forward — including in matters involving President Trump and the Epstein files.
According to congressional historians, never before has a congressional committee deposed a former president. It was rare enough to have former First Lady and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testify the day before. Republicans noted that former President Clinton had previously acknowledged knowing Epstein and traveling on trips that included him.
"I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices," said Hillary Clinton after nearly six hours of closed-door testimony before the panel.
WHY KEEPING LAWMAKERS IN DC DURING SHUTDOWN MAY HAVE CAUSED MORE HARM THAN GOOD
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said Hillary Clinton declared "‘You’ll have to ask my husband,’" more than "a dozen" times during her deposition ahead of Bill Clinton’s the following day.
There are no accusations of wrongdoing against either of the Clintons in connection with Epstein. But the former president’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein have spurred questions from lawmakers.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: BONDI’S BINDER STRATEGY TURNS HOUSE HEARING INTO POLITICAL FIRESTORM
"It's very difficult to get people in for these depositions of great power and great wealth," said Comer. "It took seven months, seven months to get the Clintons in here. But we've got them in here."
"Here" was Chappaqua, about an hour north of New York City. The Clintons have resided in Chappaqua since President Clinton left office in 2001 and when Hillary Clinton ran for Senate from New York in 2000. Hillary Clinton served as a senator from New York from 2001 until 2009, when she became President Obama’s first Secretary of State.
More specifically, the "here" for the Clintons’ testimony was not a bland office in the Rayburn House Office Building. House members questioned the Clintons at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, known locally as "ChappPAC," a white structure with simple arcades and Greek …
Same show, different day.
Most congressional precedents emanate from Capitol Hill.
Most presidential precedents emerge from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
But a precedent which may echo around the halls of Congress and the White House for years materialized in recent days in the snow-covered, wooded village of Chappaqua, New York.
That’s where former President Bill Clinton testified under subpoena to the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers said the panel’s ability to compel testimony from a former president could establish a new precedent going forward — including in matters involving President Trump and the Epstein files.
According to congressional historians, never before has a congressional committee deposed a former president. It was rare enough to have former First Lady and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testify the day before. Republicans noted that former President Clinton had previously acknowledged knowing Epstein and traveling on trips that included him.
"I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices," said Hillary Clinton after nearly six hours of closed-door testimony before the panel.
WHY KEEPING LAWMAKERS IN DC DURING SHUTDOWN MAY HAVE CAUSED MORE HARM THAN GOOD
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said Hillary Clinton declared "‘You’ll have to ask my husband,’" more than "a dozen" times during her deposition ahead of Bill Clinton’s the following day.
There are no accusations of wrongdoing against either of the Clintons in connection with Epstein. But the former president’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein have spurred questions from lawmakers.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: BONDI’S BINDER STRATEGY TURNS HOUSE HEARING INTO POLITICAL FIRESTORM
"It's very difficult to get people in for these depositions of great power and great wealth," said Comer. "It took seven months, seven months to get the Clintons in here. But we've got them in here."
"Here" was Chappaqua, about an hour north of New York City. The Clintons have resided in Chappaqua since President Clinton left office in 2001 and when Hillary Clinton ran for Senate from New York in 2000. Hillary Clinton served as a senator from New York from 2001 until 2009, when she became President Obama’s first Secretary of State.
More specifically, the "here" for the Clintons’ testimony was not a bland office in the Rayburn House Office Building. House members questioned the Clintons at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, known locally as "ChappPAC," a white structure with simple arcades and Greek …
Former President Bill Clinton deposed in Epstein probe in potential first for Congress
Same show, different day.
Most congressional precedents emanate from Capitol Hill.
Most presidential precedents emerge from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
But a precedent which may echo around the halls of Congress and the White House for years materialized in recent days in the snow-covered, wooded village of Chappaqua, New York.
That’s where former President Bill Clinton testified under subpoena to the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers said the panel’s ability to compel testimony from a former president could establish a new precedent going forward — including in matters involving President Trump and the Epstein files.
According to congressional historians, never before has a congressional committee deposed a former president. It was rare enough to have former First Lady and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testify the day before. Republicans noted that former President Clinton had previously acknowledged knowing Epstein and traveling on trips that included him.
"I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices," said Hillary Clinton after nearly six hours of closed-door testimony before the panel.
WHY KEEPING LAWMAKERS IN DC DURING SHUTDOWN MAY HAVE CAUSED MORE HARM THAN GOOD
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said Hillary Clinton declared "‘You’ll have to ask my husband,’" more than "a dozen" times during her deposition ahead of Bill Clinton’s the following day.
There are no accusations of wrongdoing against either of the Clintons in connection with Epstein. But the former president’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein have spurred questions from lawmakers.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: BONDI’S BINDER STRATEGY TURNS HOUSE HEARING INTO POLITICAL FIRESTORM
"It's very difficult to get people in for these depositions of great power and great wealth," said Comer. "It took seven months, seven months to get the Clintons in here. But we've got them in here."
"Here" was Chappaqua, about an hour north of New York City. The Clintons have resided in Chappaqua since President Clinton left office in 2001 and when Hillary Clinton ran for Senate from New York in 2000. Hillary Clinton served as a senator from New York from 2001 until 2009, when she became President Obama’s first Secretary of State.
More specifically, the "here" for the Clintons’ testimony was not a bland office in the Rayburn House Office Building. House members questioned the Clintons at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, known locally as "ChappPAC," a white structure with simple arcades and Greek …
