Bill Clinton will likely try and “turn the tables on Donald Trump” in today’s hearing on the Epstein files, a senior Washington correspondent has predicted.
Yesterday, Hillary Clinton testified before a Congressional Committee on her links to Jeffrey Epstein, despite insisting that she had never met the man.
The former US Secretary of State accused Republican members of Congress of a “fishing expedition” designed to deflect attention from Donald Trump, whose name features prominently in the files.
“You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers,” she told the Committee.
Today, Bill Clinton will be questioned about his far more extensive links to the notorious paedophile financier.
Epstein and Bill Clinton. He has long denied knowledge of his crimes and said he cut off ties with the sex offender decades ago.
On Newstalk Breakfast, the Guardian’s Washington Correspondent David Smith predicted the former US President could expect some uncomfortable questions.
“Bill Clinton travelled aboard Jeffrey Epstein’s plane at least four times,” he explained.
“Epstein was a donor to the Clinton Global Initiative and Bill Clinton’s name features frequently throughout the released Epstein files; there are multiple photos of him.
“Clearly, there was that relationship between Bill Clinton and Epstein.”
“And that has caused tremendous damage for other notable figures in the US who were tied to Epstein - some have been forced to resign from their jobs - and so, yes, Bill Clinton will be under quite intense scrutiny.”
Even the faintest hint of association with Epstein has proved toxic for many of the world’s global élite.
Some, such as Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, are now under criminal investigation.
Others, such World Economic Forum CEO Borge Brende, have lost their jobs.
Britain’s former Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre centre and Ghislaine Maxwell. Picture by: US Dept of Justice.“I assume Clinton will deny any significant knowledge of what Jeffrey Epstein was doing, even though there's evidence that others knew about it relatively early,” Mr Smith said.
“It's going to be a challenge for him.
“I think that said, even the Republicans on this Committee, even people who have spent years hunting the Clintons for one reason or another, are not alleging a crime or alleging wrongdoing on Bill Clinton's part.”
Mr Smith added that Mr Clinton is likely to use his testimony to highlight Epstein’s friendship with Trump.
Both were residents of New York City and Palm Beach, Florida for many years and had a friendly relationship during the 1990s.
President Trump’s name features some 6,000 times in the files but he insists that they fell out in the early 2000s - before Epstein’s conviction for sex trafficking.
Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell. Picture by: US Department of Justice.“I think they do sense an opportunity here to turn the tables on Donald Trump,” Mr Smith said.
“And that is why the Clintons actually requested that these hearings be open to the public and broadcast live on television. That request was denied, although we do expect to see video footage.
“But Hillary Clinton was quite explicit in her statement that there should be some kind of trafficking committee and that it should investigate Donald Trump, who is named more than anyone in these files.
“And I would expect Bill Clinton to do the same thing.”
Main image: A split of Epstein with Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
