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Borge Brende Resigns WEF as the Clintons Testimony Advances in Jeffrey Epstein Case

Borge Brende steps down from the World Economic Forum amid Hillary and Bill Clinton’s testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation

Borge Brende has announced his resignation as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, the organization responsible for the annual Davos summit, following revelations of his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“After careful reflection, I have decided to resign as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum,” Brende said Thursday, February 26. He added that it is “the right time” for the Forum to continue its important work “without distractions.” The resignation marks a major institutional consequence of the Jeffrey Epstein case at the global level.

Hillary and Bill Clinton Testify Before Congress

Hillary Clinton began her deposition Thursday at the couple’s residence in Chappaqua, New York, with former President Bill Clinton scheduled to testify the following day. The arrangement, negotiated by their attorneys David Kendall and Cheryl Mills with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, was designed to avoid the optics of a former president appearing at Congress under subpoena.

Comer had previously threatened contempt proceedings after the Clintons declined to comply with what their legal team described as a “legally invalid and unenforceable” subpoena, part of what they claimed was a Republican effort to target them politically. On the eve of the vote, which could have led to criminal referrals, the Clintons agreed to testify.

CNN reports that the couple has spent recent days preparing, reviewing interactions with Epstein, and planning responses to anticipated aggressive questioning from Republican lawmakers. The depositions are being recorded and will be released publicly in the following days.

“No one is accusing the Clintons of anything; we just have a lot of questions,” Comer said. Testifying separately, Hillary and Bill Clinton are expected to provide information that may differ, making coordinated attacks by Republicans more difficult.

Scrutiny of Past Associations

Hillary Clinton has stated she never met Epstein. Bill Clinton’s past interactions are under closer examination, including at least 16 flights on Epstein’s private jet, as well as photos showing him in a jacuzzi with women and alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking minors.

Bill Clinton has not been charged in the Epstein case. His spokesperson has repeatedly emphasized that he severed ties with Epstein before the financier’s 2019 federal arrest and was unaware of any illegal activities.

Survivors of Epstein’s abuse and their attorneys stress the importance of the Clintons’ testimony. “He was connected to Epstein, was the president of our country, and survivors deserve to understand that link,” said Jennifer Plotkin to CNN. Some Democrats, including Representative Rashida Tlaib, have voiced support, noting that transparency and justice require questioning anyone associated with Epstein, regardless of political affiliation.

The depositions recall past legal challenges faced by the Clintons. Bill Clinton endured impeachment proceedings over the Monica Lewinsky scandal, while Hillary Clinton faced extensive investigations as Secretary of State over the Benghazi attack and her private email server, culminating in an 11-hour Congressional deposition.

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