During a closed-door deposition in New York, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal activities and that she has no memory of meeting Epstein.
In an opening statement made public, Clinton stated that she was unaware of their crimes and expressed horror at what has since been revealed. Her testimony marked the beginning of two days of depositions, which will also include former President Bill Clinton.
The depositions are being held in Chappaqua, New York, following months of disagreement between the Clintons and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers rejected the couple’s previous written statements and issued subpoenas, with Committee Chairman James Comer warning of potential contempt proceedings.
Hillary Clinton acknowledged that her husband had been on trips related to Epstein’s charitable work, but she reiterated that she had no personal interactions with him. She confirmed meeting Maxwell at Clinton Foundation events and mentioned 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.