Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday in a closed-door deposition focused on her potential ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton said the questioning was repetitive and criticized the committee for how it's conducting its investigation into the financier's crimes.
The deposition, held in Chappaqua, New York, where the Clintons live, marked a historic moment. It's the first time a former presidential couple has been subpoenaed to testify before Congress under oath. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, is scheduled to testify before the same committee on Friday.
Key Takeaways
- Hillary Clinton denied ever meeting Epstein or having any connection with him, saying she only knew his associate Ghislaine Maxwell casually
- Clinton criticized the committee for asking repetitive questions and raising off-topic issues like UFOs and the debunked Pizzagate conspiracy
- A Republican representative briefly disrupted the deposition by sharing an unauthorized photograph with a conservative influencer, violating House rules
- Clinton challenged the committee's investigative priorities, noting they haven't called key figures connected to Epstein and that Republicans skipped a deposition with billionaire Leslie Wexner
Background
The House Oversight Committee launched its investigation into Epstein after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, which required the Justice Department to release materials related to the case. Committee Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, has been pushing to understand how Epstein accumulated his wealth, whether he served as an asset for a foreign nation, and what funds he generated for various organizations.
The Clintons initially resisted the subpoenas issued in July 2025. Their lawyer, David Kendall, argued the couple had no relevant information about the federal government's handling of the Epstein investigation. He proposed they provide a four-hour transcribed interview instead of appearing for in-person testimony. But after the Oversight Committee passed a contempt resolution in January, the Clintons agreed to sit for depositions.
This week's testimonies come as the committee continues its broader probe into Epstein's connections to powerful figures across business, politics, and finance. The investigation has already examined relationships with billionaire retail executive Leslie Wexner and is now focusing on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who the committee believes maintained ties with Epstein longer than previously disclosed.
Key Details
Clinton's Testimony and Denials
In her opening statement, Clinton was direct about her relationship with Epstein. "I never met Jeffrey Epstein, never had any connection or communication with him," she said. On Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate now serving a 20-year prison sentence, Clinton said: "I knew Ghislaine Maxwell casually, as an acquaintance."
Clinton stated she has no information about Epstein's illegal activities. She emphasized that the committee's assumption that she possessed relevant knowledge was incorrect. Her testimony contradicted none of the basic facts the committee was investigating, but it also provided little new information about Epstein's operations or connections.
Criticism of Committee Conduct
After her deposition ended, Clinton went on the offensive. She criticized the committee's investigative approach, saying it wasted time on questions unrelated to Epstein. "So if they are going to fulfill their responsibilities to literally investigate the investigations, which is what they originally said was the scope of their work, I think they could have spent the day more productively," she said.
She pointed out that the committee asked her repeatedly whether she knew Epstein and raised topics like UFOs and Pizzagate, the baseless conspiracy theory that has been thoroughly debunked. Clinton also challenged the committee's priorities more broadly.
"You have made little effort to call the people who show up most prominently in the Epstein files. And when you did, not a single Republican member showed up for Les Wexner's deposition," Clinton stated.
Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands, had been deposed earlier in February. During that closed-door session, he claimed he never witnessed or had knowledge of Epstein's criminal activity. But no Republican committee members attended raised questions about how serious Republicans were taking the investigation.
Disruption During Deposition
Thursday's testimony was interrupted when Republican Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado sent an unauthorized photograph of Clinton to conservative political commentator Benny Johnson. Johnson then shared the image on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
The incident violated House rules prohibiting the capture and dissemination of images from active depositions. Clinton's spokesperson, Nick Merrill, said the hearing paused briefly while the committee addressed the breach. "We figure the photo from and possibly members Congress are violating House rules," Merrill told reporters.
The deposition resumed after the disruption and continued for several hours. The session is being video recorded and will be transcribed according to House deposition rules. Committee Chairman Comer said the video will be released once everyone involved has approved it.
Boebert later remarked on X that "enny did wrong," appearing to distance herself from Johnson's decision to post the photo publicly.
What This Means
Clinton's testimony sets the stage for her husband's appearance Friday. While she provided few new details about Epstein, her criticism of the committee's approach signals how the Clintons plan to defend themselves against the investigation. They're arguing the committee is wasting time on tangential questions and hasn't properly investigated the most important figures in Epstein's network.
The committee is clearly interested in understanding the full scope of Epstein's financial operations and his connections to powerful people. Comer has indicated the panel is also looking into whether the Justice Department withheld information from the Epstein Files release that could be damaging to President Donald Trump, who has maintained he had a falling out with Epstein years before the financier's 2019 arrest.
Democrats on the committee have called for Republicans to investigate Trump's connections to Epstein more thoroughly. They've also praised Clinton for cooperating and answering questions, contrasting her approach with what they see as the committee's partisan focus.
The Clintons have pushed for public hearings and the full release of all Epstein files. Hillary Clinton reiterated this position at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, saying transparency is essential so people can "hold people accountable" if appropriate.
The committee's investigation into Epstein continues to expand. Comer hasn't ruled out subpoenaing Commerce Secretary Lutnick, whose continued relationship with Epstein after 2008 was revealed in newly released Justice Department materials. The files showed Lutnick and his family had lunch on Epstein's private island in 2012, contradicting his earlier claims that the relationship ended in 2005.
Meanwhile, related to broader entertainment industry developments, important has won a bidding war over Netflix for Warner Bros. Discovery, a major consolidation in media that reflects ongoing shifts in the entertainment scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Congress investigating Hillary Clinton's ties to Epstein?
The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Clinton as part of its investigation into how Epstein accumulated his wealth, whether he served as a foreign asset, and his connections to various organizations and individuals. The committee assumed she had relevant information, though Clinton has denied this.
What did Hillary Clinton say about her relationship with Epstein?
Clinton testified that she never met Epstein, had no connection or communication with him, and only knew Ghislaine Maxwell casually as an acquaintance. She stated she has no information about Epstein's illegal activities.
Will the deposition be made public?
Yes. The deposition is being video recorded and transcribed according to House rules. Committee Chairman Comer said the video will be released once everyone involved has approved it, though no specific timeline has been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Congress investigating Hillary Clinton’s ties to Epstein?
The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Clinton as part of its investigation into how Epstein accumulated his wealth, whether he served as a foreign asset, and his connections to various organizations and individuals. The committee assumed she had relevant information, though Clinton has denied this.
What did Hillary Clinton say about her relationship with Epstein?
Clinton testified that she never met Epstein, had no connection or communication with him, and only knew Ghislaine Maxwell casually as an acquaintance. She stated she has no information about Epstein’s illegal activities.
Will the deposition be made public?
Yes. The deposition is being video recorded and transcribed according to House rules. Committee Chairman Comer said the video will be released once everyone involved has approved it, though no specific timeline has been announced.
