Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before members of Congress on Thursday regarding her knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal activities, insisting she was unaware of their alleged crimes. The deposition marks the first day of two-day proceedings that will also include former President Bill Clinton.
“I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein,” Hillary Clinton stated in her opening remarks, which she shared on social media. She added, “Like every decent person, I have been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes.” The closed-door session lasted over six hours, during which she answered every question posed by the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee.
The deposition, held in the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, New York, comes after months of tense negotiations between the former presidential couple and Congress. Republican committee members pressed the Clintons to testify as part of their investigation into Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Hillary Clinton addressed her prior interactions with Epstein and Maxwell, stating she had only met Maxwell at events organized by the Clinton Foundation and noted Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding as a guest of another attendee. “I only knew Maxwell as an acquaintance,” she told the committee.
The Oversight Committee has targeted Bill Clinton over his ties to Epstein. Photos included in the first tranche of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in January depict the former president, though he has not been accused of wrongdoing. The committee also seeks to examine Hillary Clinton’s work on combating global sex trafficking. “My work as Secretary of State addressing sex trafficking has always been about helping millions of survivors,” she said.
Hillary Clinton criticized the investigation as biased, accusing committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., of conducting a “one-sided investigation” that ignored scrutiny of former President Donald Trump and other Republican officials. She described some questions as concerning “vile, bogus conspiracy theories.”
The deposition was temporarily paused after Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., sent a photo of Hillary Clinton in the closed session to a conservative influencer, highlighting concerns over transparency and protocol violations. Democrats have called for the full video and transcript of the proceedings to be released, emphasizing the need for a public record.
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, said Clinton’s testimony sets a precedent for similar scrutiny of Trump, urging, “Let’s get President Trump in front of our committee to answer the questions that are being asked across this country from survivors.” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer announced plans to review unredacted versions of the Epstein case files, vowing to “pull on every thread” to ensure accountability.
The deposition reflects ongoing bipartisan pressure to address the legacy of Epstein’s abuse and the role of powerful figures who were associated with him. While Hillary Clinton reiterated her lack of knowledge about Epstein and Maxwell’s crimes, the proceedings underscore the persistent demand for transparency and justice from survivors and the public alike.
