Hillary Clinton Testifies She Never Met Epstein in House Deposition

Hillary Clinton Denies Epstein Link in Closed-Door Congressional Deposition

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified behind closed doors before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, February 26, 2026, telling lawmakers she "never met Jeffrey Epstein" and had no knowledge of his crimes. The deposition marked one of the most politically charged congressional interrogations of the year and added a new chapter to the long-running controversy over Epstein's connections to prominent public figures.

Clinton spoke briefly to reporters outside her home in Chappaqua, New York, after the session ended. She was composed, direct, and visibly annoyed. "I never met Jeffrey Epstein, never had any connection or communication with him," she said. "I knew Ghislaine Maxwell casually as an acquaintance. But whatever they asked me, I did my very best to respond."

She dismissed the hearing as "partisan political theater," a phrase her allies echoed throughout the afternoon. Her attorney confirmed that she answered every question posed and cooperated fully with the committee.

What the Committee Was Probing

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has been investigating the social networks of Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting federal trafficking charges. Republicans have long sought to tie prominent Democrats to Epstein, while Democrats have pointed out that Epstein also had documented relationships with senior Republicans and allies of President Trump.

Flight logs from Epstein's private aircraft — the so-called Lolita Express — showed Bill Clinton had flown on the plane multiple times in the early 2000s. The former president was scheduled to appear before the same committee on Friday. Hillary Clinton's deposition was a precursor to that appearance.

According to Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee chairman, "We are simply following the evidence. The American people deserve to know the full extent of Epstein's network."

Democrats Push Back Hard

Democratic committee members called the proceedings a political witch hunt and demanded that President Trump himself be subpoenaed for deposition. Documents related to a woman who accused Trump of assaulting her while she was a minor have reportedly gone missing from the Justice Department's Epstein file releases, a development that Democrats called deeply alarming.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told reporters: "If this committee is serious about accountability, it will depose every public figure with documented ties to Epstein — regardless of party."

The White House declined to comment on Democratic demands for a Trump deposition. A spokesperson said the president "welcomes full transparency" on the Epstein matter but offered no specifics.

Epstein Files and What Remains Hidden

The Trump administration pledged in January 2025 to release all Epstein-related documents. Some files were released in batches, but critics say the releases have been incomplete, heavily redacted, or missing key exhibits. A federal judge ordered additional disclosures last month after a legal challenge from survivors' advocates.

Survivors of Epstein's abuse, several of whom attended Trump's State of the Union address as guests of sympathetic lawmakers, say what they want most is transparency — not spectacle. Whether Friday's deposition of Bill Clinton, or any subsequent congressional action, brings them closer to that goal remains to be seen.