>>No...because it his statement came decades later, and after her audio interview in the 1980's.

Usually lawyers can refuse to represent unsavory clients in the US. However, my understanding is that once the Court appoints you, "you're it" unless you can demonstrate a timing or other conflict. I would not be surprised if HRC got landed with this one because others refused and then the client demanded a female precisely when an ambitious HRC was trying to maximize her visibility. The Judge said good, you're it.

If this is correct- then can't you image a young HRC's dismay that her ambitious efforts caused her to be landed with a booby prize? If (when?) she did try to get out of it, it would be half-witted to lay a paper trail showing an attempt to avoid her obligations. Of course it all would have been done via the equivalent of a personal email server at the time, which means informal corridor discussions. When those got her nowhere, she gritted her teeth and got on with it. Later on, when her star was shining brightly, she and other players reminisced.

You seem to think she might have lied: but why? She was court-appointed attorney who did her duty. Subsequently the underage complainant has made other allegations about HRC's behavior, but it's worth considering that it's not the job of a defense attorney to get somebody off; it's the job of the prosecution to prove the case while the defense attorney ensures that constitutional and other rights are upheld. I'm not convinced that a young highly ambitious HRC would see it as in her own interest to help a rapist escape rather than simply demonstrating fierce commitment to the Constitution and personal rights as the client goes down. In any case, her conduct of the defense is a separate matter from being required to represent him. Which is why, IMHO, this point you are pursuing is a nit. Criminal lawyers all over the world defend rotters and in many jurisdictions there are "first cab at the rank" rules that oblige lawyers to accept a client, even the worst sort of rotter.

/edit/ - breaking news: FBI Director James Comey has just announced that the FBI has worked around the clock to review the new emails and no charges are warranted. The black eye now turns into a badge of honor for HRC who can claim the moral high ground, baffling her foes and seeming very likely to be your next President.