CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. — In an unprecedented scene within the quiet hamlet of Chappaqua, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat for a marathon six-hour closed-door deposition on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Testifying before the House Oversight Committee as part of a sprawling investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Clinton remained steadfast in her assertion that she had no personal connection to Epstein’s criminal enterprise.
Hillary Clinton Speaks After Closed-door Deposition On Epstein (Courtesy PBS NewsHour)
The deposition, held at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center near the Clintons’ home, marks a historic escalation in the congressional probe into the Epstein files. While Hillary Clinton addressed lawmakers today, the political stakes are set to rise even further on Friday, when former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to undergo his own transcribed deposition regarding his documented ties to the disgraced financier.
A Denied Acquaintance and a “Fishing Expedition”
Clad in a blue suit, Hillary Clinton arrived at the arts center under heavy Secret Service presence, entering through a shielded tent to avoid a crush of international media. According to her opening statement, which was released to the public shortly after the session began, Clinton was blunt about her lack of involvement.
“I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein,” the statement read. “I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes, or offices. I have nothing to add to that.”
During the proceedings, which were briefly paused after a Republican lawmaker allegedly leaked a photo of the secure room, Clinton reportedly answered every question posed by both Republican and Democratic members. However, she did not hide her disdain for the process. Emerging from the arts center in the evening, she characterized the hearing as “partisan political theater” designed to distract from other figures mentioned in the Epstein files, specifically pointing toward President Donald Trump.
“If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions,” Clinton told reporters. She acknowledged knowing Ghislaine Maxwell “casually as an acquaintance” and confirmed that Maxwell had attended Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding, but only as the “plus one” of an invited guest.
The Focus Shifts to Bill Clinton
While Hillary Clinton’s testimony focused largely on her lack of direct contact with Epstein, the committee’s Republican Chairman, James Comer, indicated that the line of questioning often veered toward her husband’s activities. Comer noted that the former Secretary of State stated “I don’t know, you’ll have to ask my husband” more than a dozen times during the six-hour window.
The spotlight now shifts entirely to former President Bill Clinton, who will face the committee on Friday, February 27. Unlike his wife, the former President has a documented history of traveling on Epstein’s private aircraft—the so-called “Lolita Express.” In his 2024 memoir, Wish I Had Never Met Him, Bill Clinton admitted to taking four international trips on the plane for Clinton Foundation work in the early 2000s but has consistently denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Friday’s testimony is expected to be significantly more intense. Committee members are prepared to confront the former President with photographs recently released from the Justice Department’s “Epstein Files,” including images that allegedly show him in social settings with Epstein and Maxwell.
Political Fallout and Transparency Demands
The Clintons’ decision to testify came only after months of legal maneuvering and a looming threat of a criminal contempt of Congress vote. While the Clintons initially pushed for the hearings to be held in public to ensure “total transparency,” the committee insisted on a closed-door format. Chairman Comer has promised to release the transcripts and video of the depositions, though only after a review by the Clintons’ legal counsel.
Democrats on the committee have defended the couple, arguing that the investigation is a “fever dream” intended to harm political rivals. Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the panel, noted that Hillary Clinton cooperated fully but emphasized that “there is zero indication that Secretary Clinton had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.”
As the first day of this historic double-header concludes, the nation awaits the testimony of a former U.S. President. Whether Friday’s session provides new revelations or simply further entrenches the partisan divide, it represents a landmark moment in the quest for accountability surrounding the Epstein scandal.
Sources and Links
- Associated Press: Hillary Clinton testifies she has no information on Epstein’s crimes
- CBS News: Hillary Clinton tells House committee she had “no idea” about Epstein’s crimes
- House Oversight Committee: Chairman Comer Announces the Clintons Will Appear for Depositions
- PBS NewsHour: Bill and Hillary Clinton gear up for another Washington fight
- The Guardian: Hillary Clinton accuses Republicans of ‘fishing expedition’ in Epstein testimony
- Washington Examiner: Hillary Clinton says she doesn’t recall meeting Epstein in House oversight deposition
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