Democrats say the probe is being weaponised to attack political opponents of US President Donald Trump – himself a longtime Epstein associate who has not been called to testify – rather than to conduct legitimate oversight.
Trump spent months trying to block the disclosure of investigative files linked to Epstein, who moved in elite circles for years, cultivating ties with billionaires, politicians, royals, academics and celebrities.
Democratic divisions
Neither Trump nor the Clintons have been accused of criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein’s activities.
In letters where they initially refused to appear in Washington, the Clintons had argued that the subpoenas were invalid because they lacked a clear legislative purpose.
Republicans say the Democratic couple’s past links to the business tycoon, including Bill Clinton’s use of his private jet in the early 2000s, justify in‑person questioning under oath.
Instead, the couple submitted sworn written statements describing their knowledge of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
Bill Clinton acknowledged flying on Epstein’s plane for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work, but said he never visited his private island.
Hillary Clinton said she had no meaningful interactions with Epstein, never flew on his plane and never visited his island.
The contempt vote and its targeting of the Clintons could have exposed divisions among congressional Democrats.
Some Democrats have privately acknowledged that their party has long argued no one should be beyond scrutiny in efforts to uncover the full scope of Epstein’s crimes.
But others feared that advancing the contempt resolutions would have played into a partisan strategy to shift attention away from Trump’s past contacts with Epstein.
The Justice Department released last week what it said would be the final batch of files related to the investigation into Epstein.
- Agence France-Presse
