Former US President Bill Clinton has testified before a congressional committee about his relationship with the late, notorious US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying he "saw nothing" and "did nothing wrong."
The day-long hearing was held on Friday before the Oversight Committee of the US House of Representatives in New York, USA.
In the closed-door hearing, former President Clinton was questioned about her name appearing in recently released documents related to the Epstein case. One of the documents released by the US Justice Department shows Clinton bathing in the same hot tub with an unidentified man.
A day before Clinton's testimony, his wife, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also testified before a Congressional committee.
During Thursday's questioning, Hillary said she knew nothing about Epstein's crimes. She had no idea about it.
Just because someone's name is on an Epstein-related document doesn't mean they were involved in any crime. Epstein's victims who have come forward so far have not brought any charges against Clinton.
After questioning, Clinton said in an initial statement that if she had even the slightest idea what Epstein was doing, she would have severed all ties with him and never traveled on his plane.
The former US president added, "Then I would have handed him over myself."
Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, both initially refused to testify before the committee; but when lawmakers moved to charge them with 'contempt of Congress', they agreed.
A source familiar with Clinton's closed-door hearing told the BBC that when the former president was asked about the photo of him sitting in a hot tub, he claimed he did not know the person with him. The person in the hot tub with Clinton is believed to be a woman. The US Justice Department blacked out the person's face in the documents released to protect her identity.
Clinton was asked if she had had sex with the woman. Clinton said she had not.
Hillary Clinton spoke to reporters after testifying before a congressional committee on Thursday; but Bill Clinton did not speak.
However, James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, described the several hours of testimony as "very productive."
"President (former) Clinton answered every question or tried to answer every question," Comar said.
Comar also said that the video and full transcript of Clinton's testimony will be released in the coming days.
James Comer described the testimony of Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary as "historic" and said they were the highest-ranking officials to ever face questioning (legal or officially recorded Congressional questioning) before Congress.
Six other US presidents have testified before Congress before this, but none of them have been legally summoned and formally questioned.
For example, former President Gerald Ford voluntarily appeared before a congressional committee in 1974 to explain his pardon of former President Richard Nixon.
"This is a serious investigation. We will continue to strive to bring the real truth to the American people and ensure justice for the victims," Comar said.
One of the issues raised during Bill Clinton's testimony was Epstein's relationship with President Donald Trump.
House Democrats said his (Bill) testimony revealed 'additional information' about Trump, which highlights the need for a new investigation into the current president.
Comar told reporters that during her testimony, Clinton was asked whether Trump should be brought before the committee to testify.
Clinton responded, "You decide that."
Comar said Clinton was asked if she knew anything about Trump's involvement in the Epstein scandal, but Comar said no new information from the former president changed her beliefs about Trump.
Comar said the charges against him (Trump) were dismissed long ago. Trump was not involved in any misconduct.
On Friday, Trump opened up about questioning Clinton. He told reporters, "I don't like to see her face questioning."
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