Friday, February 27, 2026 - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told House lawmakers during a closed-door deposition in New York that she had no information about the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and said she does not remember ever meeting Epstein.
In an opening statement shared publicly, Clinton said she
was unaware of their crimes and expressed horror at what has since come to
light. Her testimony marked the beginning of two days of depositions that are
also set to include former President Bill Clinton.
The depositions are taking place in Chappaqua, New York,
following months of dispute between the Clintons and the Republican-led House
Oversight Committee. Lawmakers had rejected written statements previously
offered by the couple and moved forward with subpoenas, with Committee Chairman
James Comer warning of potential contempt proceedings.
Hillary Clinton acknowledged that her husband had traveled
on trips connected to Epstein’s charitable work but reiterated that she did not
recall personal interactions with him. She confirmed having encountered Maxwell
at events hosted by the Clinton Foundation and noted that Maxwell attended
their daughter Chelsea’s wedding in 2010.
Bill Clinton has faced renewed scrutiny after photographs of
him appeared in documents released by the Department of Justice earlier this
year. However, he has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing related to
Epstein.
The investigation also aims to examine how Epstein secured a
controversial 2008 plea agreement in Florida that allowed him to avoid federal
charges after pleading guilty to state prostitution charges involving a minor.
Lawmakers are probing why further federal action was not pursued at the time.
Hillary Clinton criticized the committee’s approach,
accusing Republicans of conducting a politically selective inquiry that fails
to scrutinize other prominent figures, including Donald Trump. Trump previously
authorized the release of additional Epstein-related files after facing public
pressure.
Meanwhile, Democrats on the committee have called for
broader accountability. Representative Robert Garcia, the panel’s top Democrat,
said that if former presidents are being questioned, Trump should also appear
before the committee. Committee leadership has stated that a sitting president
cannot be deposed.
The renewed congressional focus reflects ongoing public
pressure for transparency regarding Epstein’s network and the powerful
individuals who associated with him before his 2019 death in federal custody
while awaiting trial.
Lawmakers from both parties have indicated that the
investigation will continue, with additional witnesses potentially being called
as the committee seeks answers about Epstein’s wealth, connections, and the
handling of prior criminal cases.
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