Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared before a congressional committee on Thursday, firmly denying any personal connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. During a closed-door deposition held in Chappaqua, New York, Clinton stated she had no recollection of ever meeting Epstein and emphasized that she never traveled on his private plane nor visited any of his properties, including his infamous island. Her testimony came after a seven-hour session with the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Epstein’s criminal network and potential political ties.
Throughout the extensive questioning, Clinton faced repeated inquiries about her relationship with Epstein, but she maintained a consistent stance of no direct involvement or knowledge of his illicit activities. After the deposition, she spoke briefly with reporters and revealed that the questioning took an unexpected turn late in the day. The committee members began probing her about unrelated topics, including UFOs and the so-called “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory—a baseless and widely debunked claim that alleged a child sex trafficking ring operated out of a Washington, D.C. pizzeria linked to her and other Democrats. Clinton described these lines of questioning as “vile” and entirely unfounded, highlighting the strange direction the investigation had taken.
In her prepared remarks, Clinton also criticized the Republican-led committee for what she perceived as an attempt to divert attention from former President Donald Trump’s connections to Epstein. She pointed out that the Trump administration had dismantled a key State Department office dedicated to combating international sex trafficking, suggesting a lack of commitment to addressing the broader issue. This accusation underscored the political tensions surrounding the investigation, as both parties continue to scrutinize each other’s ties to Epstein’s network.
Following Clinton’s testimony, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, dismissed calls for Trump to testify before the panel. Comer argued that the former president had already been extensively questioned on the matter and had released numerous documents related to Epstein. He portrayed the investigation as thorough and transparent, countering claims that it was politically motivated. Meanwhile, the Clintons initially resisted cooperating with the committee but eventually agreed to testify after lawmakers threatened to hold them in contempt of Congress.
Bill Clinton is scheduled to provide his testimony on Friday. Hillary Clinton informed reporters that her husband intends to affirm that the majority of individuals who had contact with Epstein prior to his 2008 guilty plea were unaware of the sex trafficking activities. She emphasized that this would be a key point in his testimony, aiming to clarify misconceptions about the extent of Epstein’s network and who was knowingly involved. Prior to the hearing, Chairman Comer denied allegations that the probe was partisan, noting that several Democrats had also supported the effort to compel the Clintons to testify.
This high-profile congressional inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal enterprise continues to draw significant public and political attention. The testimonies of prominent figures like Hillary and Bill Clinton are expected to shed more light on the complex web of relationships surrounding Epstein, even as conspiracy theories and political rivalries complicate the investigation’s progress.
