Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat for a highly anticipated Hillary Clinton deposition with the House Oversight Committee on Thursday in Chappaqua, New York, as part of the panel’s sprawling investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The closed-door session, which lasted several hours, quickly became a flashpoint for accusations of partisanship, questions about committee protocol, and a surreal line of inquiry that included UFO conspiracy theories and the long-debunked “Pizzagate” claims.
Walking out of the session, Clinton made clear she felt the committee had squandered a valuable opportunity to pursue meaningful leads in the Epstein probe. “I think they could have spent the day more productively,” she told reporters, adding that she was asked “over and over” whether she knew the convicted sex offender.
A Deposition Marred by Odd Questions and Leaked Photos
Perhaps the strangest wrinkle of the day came when committee lawyers reportedly veered into territory that had little to do with Epstein’s documented crimes. According to Clinton, investigators pressed her on UFOs and Pizzagate, topics that have circulated in online conspiracy circles for years but have no documented connection to the federal government’s handling of the Epstein case.
The deposition was also briefly paused after a photograph taken inside the room leaked online. Conservative social media influencer Benny Johnson posted the image, claiming it had been provided by Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado. When asked why she shared the photo, Boebert offered a blunt response: “Why not?” She further insisted that no committee rules had been violated and that she faced no reprimand.
Democrats on the committee reacted with visible frustration. Rep. Robert Garcia, the panel’s top Democrat, called the breach “not acceptable” and said members were “very taken aback” by the immediate violation of rules meant to protect the integrity of closed-door testimony.
Clinton’s Repeated Denials and Sharp Critique
Throughout the Hillary Clinton deposition, the former first lady maintained a consistent message: she had no relationship with Epstein, had never visited his island, homes, or offices, and never flew on his plane. “I don’t recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein,” she said in her opening statement, describing her lack of knowledge about his criminal activity and that of his convicted associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
But Clinton did not stop at denials. She used her opening statement to launch a pointed attack on the Republican-led committee, accusing members of protecting a single political figure rather than pursuing justice for Epstein’s victims. “This institutional failure is designed to protect one political party and one public official, rather than to seek truth and justice for the victims and survivors,” she said, declining to name the official she had in mind.
She also took aim at the committee’s investigative priorities, noting that several of the names appearing most prominently in the Epstein files had not been called to testify, while Republicans had failed to attend the deposition of retail billionaire Leslie Wexner earlier in the month. “Not a single Republican member showed up for Les Wexner’s deposition,” Clinton observed.
Bill Clinton’s Upcoming Testimony and the Subpoena Battle
Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to sit for his own deposition on Friday, closing out a remarkable week for the committee. His appearance comes after months of legal wrangling between the Clintons’ legal team and Oversight Chairman James Comer.
The committee first attempted to subpoena the Clintons in July of the previous year, citing questions about the former president’s documented travels on Epstein’s private aircraft and what the panel described as the family’s “past relationship” with Epstein and Maxwell. When the Clintons refused to appear, the committee passed a contempt resolution , with nine Democrats voting in favor , before the couple reversed course at the last minute and agreed to testify.
Their lawyer, David Kendall, had argued throughout that a written submission would suffice, contending the Clintons had no information relevant to the committee’s mandate. That argument ultimately failed, though the Clintons continue to push for public hearings rather than closed-door sessions.
“I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared,” Bill Clinton wrote on X. “If they want answers, let’s stop the games and do this the right way: in a public hearing.”
Comer’s Defense and Democratic Counter-Pressures
For his part, Chairman Comer defended the committee’s work, arguing that the depositions were essential to understanding the federal government’s handling of the Epstein investigations. “No one is accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing,” Comer said before Thursday’s session. “They’re going to have due process, but we have a lot of questions.”
He also pointed out that Democrats themselves had voted earlier to subpoena the Clintons, framing the move as bipartisan. Yet Democrats countered by insisting the committee’s real focus should be on Epstein’s ties to President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet. Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and has said he cut off contact with his former friend more than two decades ago.
“We will talk to any single person, whether that is a Democrat, a Republican, how much wealth they have, how powerful the position is, we want to talk to anyone,” Garcia said.
A Complicated Closing Exchange
In a surprising twist at the end of the session, Hillary Clinton praised Comer personally for what she described as a series of “significant” questions about the nature of the investigation and areas she believed deserved exploration. She said she “appreciated” the chairman’s approach and called it “a reassuring way to end a very long, repetitive deposition.”
That closing exchange stood in stark contrast to the combative tone of her opening statement, and it suggested that at least some members of the committee were willing to engage with the Clintons on substantive investigative questions rather than partisan theater. Comer later confirmed that the depositions would be video-recorded and eventually released to the public once reviewed.
The Broader Fight Over Epstein Files
Both Clintons have used the spotlight to renew their long-standing calls for the full release of the Epstein files. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, Hillary Clinton said the documents “need to be totally transparent,” adding that she had called for years for everything to be put in the public domain so that victims could see justice and the public could understand the full scope of what occurred.
The Department of Justice has faced mounting criticism over the selective release of documents related to the case, with survivors and lawmakers alike demanding more complete disclosures. The Clintons have positioned themselves as vocal advocates for transparency, even as they insist they had no direct knowledge of Epstein’s activities.
What Comes Next
With Bill Clinton’s deposition scheduled for Friday, the committee will soon turn its attention to reviewing the transcripts and video recordings before any public release. Committee staff have indicated that the videos will be published once all participants have approved them.
Meanwhile, the political stakes remain high. Democrats are expected to ramp up pressure on the committee to investigate Trump’s past ties to Epstein, while Republicans continue to defend their decision to bring both Clintons before the panel. For Hillary Clinton, the deposition appears to have reinforced her position that the investigation is being conducted in bad faith, even as she acknowledged the seriousness of Epstein’s crimes and the importance of pursuing the truth for the sake of his victims.
Conclusion
The Hillary Clinton deposition may not have produced dramatic new revelations, but it succeeded in spotlighting the deep partisan tensions surrounding the Epstein investigation. From questions about UFOs and Pizzagate to a leaked photograph and accusations of selective inquiry, the day laid bare the political fault lines that continue to shape one of the most consequential federal investigations in recent memory. As Bill Clinton prepares to take his turn behind closed doors, the nation waits to see whether the committee’s probe will yield genuine accountability or simply deepen the divide over who, exactly, the Epstein files implicate.