Hillary Clinton's hearing into her relationship with the late financier, who was convicted of sex crimes – Jeffrey Epstein, was briefly interrupted after a photo of Clinton from the former US Secretary of State's hearing was leaked to social media, in violation of the rules of the congressional investigative committee, Reuters reported, citing Clinton adviser Nick Merrill, BTA reported.
Conservative influencer Benny Johnson, who posted the photo, said it was taken by Lauren Bobert, who represents the state of Colorado in the House of Representatives.
Clinton is testifying on the first day of the two-day hearing, and her husband - former President Bill Clinton - will testify tomorrow.
During the hearing today, she told US lawmakers that she was not aware of the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and Gillian Maxwell.
„I had no idea about their criminal activities. "I don't recall ever meeting Mr. Epstein," Clinton said in her opening remarks, which she shared on social media.
The hearings, held behind closed doors in the town of Chappaqua, north of New York, where the Clintons have a home, began after months of tense disputes between the former influential Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives of the US Congress.
This will be the first time that a former US president will be forced to testify before Congress, the Associated Press notes.
Earlier, Hillary Clinton said at a conference of the “Clinton“Foundation“ that her husband traveled with Epstein in connection with charity events, and that she herself did not recall meeting the late financier, but was in contact with Maxwell – Epstein's former friend and confidant. A British socialite, Maxwell also attended the 2010 wedding of their daughter Chelsea Clinton.
Hillary and Bill Clinton initially refused to testify before the committee, but later relented after lawmakers sought to hold them in contempt of Congress.
Meanwhile, Democratic House Representative Robert Garcia, who is investigating the “Epstein” case, said today that the White House continues to cover up allegations against Donald Trump, whom he has called to testify.