Transcription
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have called Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans' bluff. As the MAGA Republicans and Trump have tried to distract from how devastating the Epstein file partial release has been, they have focused on subpoenaing Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. Trump and MAGA wanted to hold them in contempt if Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton did not show up at a House oversight deposition.
But guess what Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton just said? Not only do we want to show up to testify, we want to do it in public because we believe if we do it in private, you'll try to cover that up also. So, let's do a public hearing so the entire world can see you haul in former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and talk about the Epstein files while Donald Trump is hiding and lying and saying that the Epstein files vindicate Donald Trump, when in fact there are 38,000 references to Donald Trump in the Epstein files that were released.
Remember, it was only a partial release of 3 million documents. We believe there are at least 3 million more documents. As many as 50 million pages may still be concealed by Trump's DOJ, and also there are a lot of improper redactions right now, which still could be implicating Donald Trump.
So, here's what was reported moments ago. The Clintons both agreed to testify in the Epstein investigation in February before MAGA Republican Congress member James Comer's oversight committee, and they want a public hearing. The Clintons gave dates in the letter to Comer. They say February 26th for Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State. February 27th for former President Clinton. Though you have notably never asked the Clintons to appear in an open hearing, we now believe that will best suit our concerns about fairness.
Now, this comes at a time where more disgusting and despicable emails of Donald Trump are coming out. This is some real grotesque stuff. And you remember this is what James Comer was saying recently as well. Let's play this clip of James Comer, who said, "We're going to hold the Clintons in contempt. We haven't heard from them." Here, play this first clip of Comer.
"Unanimously by the committee in a bipartisan manner, we will move next week in the House Oversight Committee markup to hold former President Clinton in contempt of Congress."
And here's Comer saying, "We're going to hold them in contempt. Let's play this."
"Bonding for the documents. She started producing the documents. Then Congress voted for the uh the discharge petition uh to send another message and we all voted for that. Uh she is she they are sending documents. They sent a big batch. The Democrats were were unhappy. They uh they said there weren't enough redactions. So now the DOJ is going through trying to make sure they redact everything. So as from from my standpoint, the Department of Justice is cooperating. They are turning over documents. We would all like for them to turn documents over quicker, but at the end of the day, they are complying. President Trump is answering your questions about Epstein. He's answered them over and over and over again. Who we haven't heard from is Bill Clinton. And I stated why. The amount of time that that Epstein spent with Clinton while he was president and post-presidency. So, I don't think it's it's uh out of line for former President Clinton to come in for a bipartisan subpoena and sit down and answer questions. So, thank you all."
As a reminder, when the Epstein File Transparency Act was passed, here's what former President Clinton had to say. "The Epstein Files Transparency Act imposes a clear legal duty on the US Department of Justice to produce the full and complete record the public demands and deserves. However, what the Department of Justice has released so far and the manner in which it did so makes one thing clear. Someone or something is being protected. We do not know whom, what, or why, but we do know this. We need no such protection. Accordingly, we call on President Trump to direct Attorney General Bondi to immediately release any remaining materials referring to, mentioning, or containing photographs of Bill Clinton. This includes without limitation any records that may exist."
And then it goes on to say, "Release all the file. Release everything." That's what they put out a few weeks ago. Now, they're saying they're going to testify at a public hearing. Um, and they want it to be public. Now, it's in James Comer's uh court to see what he does there. And by the way, this begs the question. Donald Trump needs to testify also. He's all throughout this. But, of course, Donald Trump will be scared. We know that about Donald Trump.
I want to bring in Democratic Congress member Raja Krishnamoorthi. Congressman Krishnamoorthi, it's uh great to see you right now. Uh let's talk about this because you know you had the MAGA Republicans wanting to create this publicity stunt and try to distract, distract, deflect, and you know you have former President Clinton and Hillary Clinton calling their bluff and saying, "All right, we'll we'll do it in public." And so now, you know, Comer and these MAGAs, they want to do everything in private, and they want to lie about what's said in these hearings and in these depositions. So it creates an interesting dynamic. What do you make of it all?
I think it's it's a good move and I I welcome that. I think that the more that the public sees and hears what's going on, the more trust they're going to have in it. Um, and I think that it also keeps everyone on their good behavior, right? I mean, it's less likely that um, you know, the Republicans are going to get into all kinds of other topics or areas having nothing to do with the subject matter at hand. So, I think it's a good thing. Look, sunlight is the best disinfectant, and so we need transparency generally around here in in in Congress, and certainly with regard to the Epstein files and any deposition really, which makes me think too, like where are all of these Trump cabinet people? Where are the hearings? You know, and obviously the answer is is that the MAGA Republicans, because they control the House, they are controlling what the hearings are are discussed. The Democrats had their way, they would bring in Bondi every week, and they'd bring in Christine Gregoire every week, and Tom Herman, and and Pete Hegseth. But just one of the notable things that I observe is, you know, the Office of Management and Budget Director doesn't show up to the budget committee. You know, Gregoire leaves after 20 minutes, like, you know, she was like uh, you know, you know, just showing up to like a party and saying hello and leaving at the last. Like these people need to sit down and be grilled. It's just weird. They don't testify. That's called accountability, my friend. You know, you know all about it. And I think that that's lacking with this administration. There's no accountability. They don't think that they actually need to uh be held accountable or need to, you know, be forthright or transparent or open or honest with the American people. That's why, you know, as you said, within the oversight committee, I've called for Christine Gregoire to come before us and answer questions. Of course, I've asked for her resignation. I've asked her to be fired. If she's not fired, I've also joined calls to impeach her. But a number of people need to come and testify under oath. And that is the key uh about what the heck is going on because they're acting with impunity right now. And that is not okay. And I'm hearing it from all corners. I'm hearing from uh Democrats, of course, but also independents and Republicans. I'm hearing this from across the spectrum, right? Because these Trump cabinet people and these, you know, MAGA leaders, you know, they do their dance where they show up on what I call state regime media, which is Fox. They have their talking points, they they lie, they defame, and then they hide. And it's like, okay, you believe these things, go testify, swear you're telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and actually get questions in an adversarial process because that's just the way our government was set up. And, you know, I mean, you have the Clintons saying they're going to be testifying in public. Um, you know, but but why, you know, Elon Musk hasn't testified in public? He's all over he's all over this list. I mean, all of these people who are hanging out with Trump, they ain't testifying in public, and they just go on their social media platforms and, you know, defame and hurt people.
Totally. And remember, when Democrats were in charge of Congress and we, you know, were um we had the White House, so to speak, that did not stop us from bringing administration officials on a regular basis to the House to testify uh in the open about whatever they are working on. That is absolutely essential, and that's what really, you know, ensures at the end of the day that people know what's going on, and if they don't like what's happening, to have a say in it in real time. And that is not happening right now with the Trump administration, as you can tell. So we have to keep pressing uh we have to put pressure. Fortunately, we do have one lever that is extremely effective, and that is the power of the purse. And I think that is why, by the way, um hopefully we'll be able to negotiate uh some meaningful changes with regard to uh the DHS, because as I as I've said before, I think we have to abolish Trump's ICE, and we have to just revamp how things are done with DHS. You know, and here's the thing, right? ICE and Border Patrol, they right now are terrorizing communities. They're terrorizing your state of Illinois, of course, they're terrorizing Chicago. We see what they're doing in Minneapolis and across this country. You know, and I just don't get. I mean, you said it very clearly there. I border patrol, the way they're composed now, whatever this thing is, this needs to be abolished. Simple, plain, simple. You know, send border patrol to the border to do border stuff. You know, what are you doing going inland and and killing people and attacking people? I just find it so interesting when people like, oh, that's such a hyperbolic position and so radical. To me, that's the most kind of basic, it's a centrist position in my view of getting rid of terrorists. I mean, what are we talking about? Getting people who are engaged in terroristic activity. Look, I think, you know, what I've said is um, you know, we need to first get rid of Kristy Noem, get rid of Greg Abbott. Uh, you know, masks off, body cameras on, identification on, no more warrantless arrests. You need third-party investigations of abuse of discretion or uh use of force. And you need uh a situation where there are no longer roving gangs of ICE and CBP agents through our cities for no reason. It doesn't make any sense. Um, that is abolishing Trump's ICE in my opinion. That is like completely changing the nature of what's going on. And I got to tell you, I'm hearing this, I'm not just hearing this from Democrats now. I'm hearing this from a a broad swath of people. Um, one person just told me a few minutes ago, her uncle was uh a Trump voter, and he showed up to an ICE protest, and then he publicized it to everybody. I think this is like going beyond or transcending any kind of party lines.
You know, and today, because MAGA Republicans refuse to hold hearings, Democrats have to hold like shadow hearings, right? Yeah. To actually do oversight and bring attention. Like your day has to have a hearing that is technically unofficial, right? Because the MAGA Republicans refuse to address the killings in the street by ICE and Border Patrol. Before we go, talk about that.
Yeah. So, in in about half an hour, I'm about to participate in a hearing. It's called a shadow hearing because, as you said, the majority is not participating and not convening it, but it's important nonetheless. So, it's actually a bicameral shadow hearing, one that's being done with the Senate um kind of Government Affairs Committee, Homeland and Government Affairs Committee, and and basically we're going to have a chance to meet with the Renee Gill, the family of Renee Gill, but also um other I guess victims of what's happened with DHS. And Chicago, as you know, was ground zero for DHS's operations. And so I'm looking forward to, you know, talking to victims of of of DHS's operations in Chicago, learning from them what happened, but also shining a light on what happened so more more people understand kind of the stakes of of what's what's absolutely imperative with DHS, which is, you know, changing it completely.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congressman of Illinois, also happens to be running for the United States Senate seat there. Congressman, thanks for joining us. We appreciate it.
Thank you, Ben. Thanks for everything that you do.
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