Hillary Clinton faced questions Thursday from the House Oversight Committee as part of its sweeping investigation into Jeffrey Epstein — and used her opening statement to firmly deny any personal connection to the disgraced financier.
Testifying in a closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, the former secretary of state said she has no knowledge of Epstein’s or Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal activities and does not recall ever interacting with Epstein.
“I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices,” Clinton said in her prepared remarks. She added that she had already submitted a sworn statement in January stating she had no information relevant to the committee’s investigation.
The deposition marks a dramatic escalation in a bipartisan inquiry that has stretched for months. Clinton and former President Bill Clinton initially resisted subpoenas but ultimately agreed to testify to avoid potential contempt of Congress votes. Bill Clinton is scheduled to sit for questioning Friday.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) emphasized before the session that the probe is not about accusing the Clintons of crimes but about answering lingering questions surrounding Epstein’s wealth, influence and connections.
“We all agree the government failed the victims,” Comer said, arguing the panel’s goal is transparency and accountability. He confirmed that lawmakers plan to ask about Hillary Clinton’s interactions with Maxwell and about Epstein’s financial ties to Clinton-related initiatives. Maxwell’s attendance at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding is also expected to come up — though Comer stressed that mentioning such ties does not imply illegal conduct.
Clinton, however, sharply criticized the investigation’s focus. In her statement, she argued the committee should be concentrating on systemic failures that allowed Epstein to avoid harsher punishment in 2008 and on fully releasing investigative files, with appropriate protections for victims.
She went further, urging lawmakers to question former President Donald Trump under oath about his own documented ties to Epstein. Clinton accused the committee majority of pursuing a partisan agenda rather than seeking justice for survivors.
“If this Committee is serious about learning the truth,” she said, it would not rely on media statements but would directly question those whose names appear repeatedly in the Epstein files.
The political tension surrounding the probe has intensified amid reports that some Justice Department records related to Epstein may have been withheld, including FBI interview materials. Democrats on the committee say they plan to examine whether any documents were improperly kept from public view.
The Oversight panel has already questioned former Trump administration officials, including past attorneys general and labor secretaries, as it attempts to piece together how Epstein secured favorable legal treatment and maintained relationships with powerful figures.
For now, Clinton maintains she has nothing to add beyond her sworn denial. But with Bill Clinton’s deposition looming and additional witnesses potentially on deck, the high-profile investigation shows no signs of slowing down — and the pressure for answers remains intense.
