CHAPPAQUA, New York. Hillary Clinton told House investigators Thursday that she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities, pushing back sharply against Republican-led scrutiny during a closed-door deposition that briefly descended into procedural drama.
In her opening statement to the House Oversight Committee, the former secretary of state said she had no meaningful connection to Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
“I had no idea about their criminal activities,” Clinton said, adding that she did not recall ever encountering Epstein, flying on his plane, or visiting his properties.
The deposition took place at the Clintons’ home in Chappaqua and is part of a broader congressional effort to examine Epstein’s network and contacts.
In comments after the deposition, Clinton described some of the questioning as “bizarre,” saying she was repeatedly asked about topics she viewed as unrelated to the Epstein investigation.
Photo leak briefly halts testimony
Proceedings were temporarily paused after conservative influencer Benny Johnson posted images of Clinton during the closed-door session. Johnson said the photos were provided by Rep. Lauren Boebert.
Clinton adviser Nick Merrill said the hearing went off the record while officials reviewed how the images were obtained and whether House rules had been violated. The deposition later resumed.
Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the committee’s top Democrat, called the photo sharing “unacceptable,” while Boebert defended Johnson online, writing that he “did nothing wrong.”
Political tensions remain high
Committee Chairman James Comer said the deposition was part of a bipartisan effort to understand Epstein’s operations, emphasizing that no one has accused the Clintons of wrongdoing.
Clinton, however, argued the inquiry was misdirected and politically motivated. In her statement, she urged lawmakers to question President Donald Trump directly under oath regarding his past association with Epstein.
President Trump has denied wrongdoing and has never been charged in connection with Epstein. The Clintons have also repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
Bill Clinton is scheduled to give a separate deposition to the committee on Friday, setting up another closely watched session.
The testimony comes amid renewed public focus on the Epstein files following recent document releases and continued pressure on Congress to examine high-profile figures linked to the disgraced financier.
For now, investigators say transcripts and video from the Clinton depositions will be released after review by attorneys.
