On 26/2, Hillary Clinton faced sensitive questions during a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York. This was part of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the sex offender who once had close ties with Bill Clinton.
On 27/2, Bill Clinton also provided testimony, becoming the first former president compelled to testify in a congressional investigation. Hillary Clinton's appearance drew attention because, after eight years in the Senate, four years as Secretary of State, and two presidential campaigns, she still appears entangled in her husband's controversies.
Patti Solis Doyle, a former senior aide to Hillary Clinton, expressed frustration: "It's heartbreaking that a global icon, an advocate for women like her, has to endure these troubles, despite being uninvolved."
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Former Secretary of State Clinton spoke after the 26/2 hearing. Photo: AFP |
A familiar scenario from 34 years ago
On 26/1/1992, Hillary Clinton sat on a sofa with her husband, facing questions about their marriage after former broadcaster Gennifer Flowers claimed a 12-year affair with Bill Clinton. At the time, he was the governor of Arkansas running for president.
During the famous CBS 60 Minutes interview, Hillary's strong response saved her husband's career and shaped her public image for the next three decades. "I'm sitting here because I love, respect, and cherish what we've been through together. If that's not enough, don't vote for him," Clinton declared.
More than 34 years later, she finds herself in a similar situation. Records show Bill Clinton flew on Epstein's private plane multiple times between 2002 and 2003. In contrast, Hillary Clinton stated she did not recall speaking with Epstein and only met his associates a few times. While her husband interacted with Epstein's circle, she was busy in her role as a senator.
Although her name appeared in over 700 Epstein documents, most were merely articles about her 2016 campaign shared by others. Instead of drawing boundaries, the Clintons chose to hire a joint legal team and fight the subpoenas together.
Longtime advisor Philippe Reines commented: "They face attacks as a united front to fight back together."
A reflex to protect family
After decades in public life, protecting each other has become a natural reflex for the Clinton family. In the past, when Bill Clinton was embroiled in scandal with intern Monica Lewinsky, Hillary dismissed the accusations, calling them a "vast right-wing conspiracy." When he faced impeachment, she continued to appear by his side to counter calls for his resignation.
Many Democrats questioned the purpose of questioning Hillary Clinton this time. Representative Kwesi Mfume suggested that including the former Secretary of State on the witness list was solely intended to humiliate her.
At the Munich Security Conference last week, Clinton supported the full release of case documents but highlighted the unfairness of investigators allowing other witnesses to submit written statements instead of testifying directly, unlike her and her husband. "They are dragging us into this to distract public attention. There's nothing complicated about it," she asserted.
Minh Phuong (According to Guardian, Mirror US, NBC News)
