In a week marked by political drama and public scrutiny, the House Oversight Committee released video footage of the closed-door depositions of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both questioned as part of the ongoing congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The depositions, conducted in Chappaqua, New York, on February 26 and 27, 2026, each lasted roughly four and a half hours and featured heated exchanges, pointed questions, and, at times, moments of visible frustration from both Clintons.
Until now, the only details known about these high-profile sessions came from those inside the room. But with the committee’s decision to make the videos public on March 2 and 3, 2026, the American people have been given a rare, unfiltered look at the tense proceedings. According to CNN, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers took turns pressing the Clintons on their connections to Epstein, their recollections of key events, and their reactions to conspiracy theories that have long swirled around the case.
One of the most talked-about moments involved Bill Clinton’s response to questions about a photo showing him in a hot tub with a woman whose face was redacted. The image, part of a cache of Epstein-related materials released by the Justice Department, has fueled speculation for years. When Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy of New York confronted the former president with the photo, Clinton was unequivocal. “I sat in the hot tub for five minutes or whatever it was, and I got up and went to bed,” he said, adding, “I don’t know who that is.” He denied any sexual activity with the woman in the photo and stated he was “almost sure” the picture was taken during a trip to Brunei in 2000, when the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference was being hosted. Clinton explained that the Sultan of Brunei had insisted he stay at the hotel and use the pool facilities, and he believed everyone present was part of his travel party, including Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and staff working on his AIDS initiative.
Clinton also addressed his note in Epstein’s 50th birthday book, a detail that has drawn scrutiny from both the media and lawmakers. He was clear in his defense: “Absolutely not. I knew nothing about that,” Clinton said when asked if he knew of Epstein’s inappropriate activities at the time he wrote the note. He emphasized that he has written “hundreds and hundreds” of birthday greetings over the years and did not consider Epstein a friend.
The former president’s ties to Epstein were further examined when committee members pressed him on Epstein’s 17 documented visits to the White House between 1993 and 1995. Clinton stated he did not recall meeting Epstein at the White House. “I don’t think I did” meet with Epstein, he said. “I don’t know who he saw.” A lawyer for the committee’s Democratic side informed Clinton that there was a photograph from a White House Historical Association reception, but Clinton said he had no specific recollection of seeing Epstein at that event.
The questioning took on an international dimension as well, with lawmakers probing whether Clinton believed he had ever been targeted by intelligence operations linked to Epstein. The released files have sparked conspiracy theories, including claims that Epstein worked as an agent for Israel’s Mossad or Russia. Clinton dismissed the idea, saying, “I’d sort of be surprised, but I don’t know.” He also denied ever being informed by Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell of any intelligence affiliations.
Hillary Clinton’s deposition was no less contentious. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina repeatedly pressed her to comment on photos of Bill Clinton with women and Epstein, but Hillary Clinton was steadfast in her refusal to offer personal opinions. “I don’t find any of your questions to be relevant to the investigation,” she said after Mace persisted. When Mace asked if Hillary had ever investigated her husband’s interactions with Epstein, Clinton accused her of relying on “innuendo.”
The mood in the room shifted dramatically about an hour and twenty minutes into Hillary Clinton’s deposition when Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado released a photo from the closed session to conservative influencer Benny Johnson, a clear violation of House rules. “I’m done with this,” Clinton said, her frustration palpable. “If you guys are doing that, I am done. You can hold me in contempt from now until the cows come home. This is just typical behavior.” The deposition was paused while both sides negotiated next steps, with Democrats insisting the release was a serious breach. Clinton later reflected, “I will confess, that I had some concerns about whether the majority on the committee would treat me fairly, and would you know fairly convey what I say and what I did and how I looked and how I responded.”
In another heated exchange, Mace questioned Clinton about her connections to Howard Lutnick in the early 2000s, referencing Lutnick’s ties to Epstein and his later role as President Donald Trump’s Commerce Secretary. The discussion grew tense, with Clinton raising her voice to assert, “I was taking care of the people who lost 3,000 lives at the World Trade Center,” referencing her work as a New York senator after the September 11 attacks. Mace accused Clinton of being “defiant and indignant,” while Clinton insisted she knew nothing about any fundraising event involving Epstein.
Perhaps the most surreal moment came when Boebert asked Hillary Clinton about the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory—an internet-fueled hoax from the 2016 election cycle that falsely claimed a child trafficking ring operated out of a Washington, D.C., pizzeria. Clinton dismissed the theory as “totally made up,” adding, “It was an outrageous allegation that ended up hurting a number of people that caused a deranged young man to show up with his assault rifle and shoot up a local pizzeria. I can’t believe you’re even referencing it.” Boebert insisted there were “connections to the — the language,” to which Clinton replied, “Well, the QAnon people believe there are.” Clinton later remarked, “I expected a lot of interesting questions today, but Pizzagate was not on my list.”
Bill Clinton’s recollections also touched on Donald Trump’s own relationship with Epstein. Clinton recounted a conversation from 2002 or 2003 in which Trump told him, “We had some great times over the years but we fell out, all because of a real estate deal.” Clinton said Trump expressed regret over the falling out but never elaborated on what the “great times” entailed. Clinton added, “I didn’t put any, you know, sexual spin on it.” When asked whether Trump should also be deposed, Clinton demurred, saying, “That’s for you to decide.” He emphasized, “The president, never — this is 27 years ago — never said anything to me to make me think he was involved with anything improper with regard to Epstein either. He just didn’t.”
Throughout the depositions, the Clintons insisted on the importance of transparency, repeatedly stating their preference for public hearings. The release of the deposition videos has now brought their testimony—and the sometimes-chaotic atmosphere of the proceedings—into the public eye, offering Americans a front-row seat to one of the most closely watched congressional investigations of recent years.
As the dust settles from these marathon depositions, the debate over the Clintons’ ties to Epstein and the broader questions of political accountability and conspiracy theories is far from over. But for a brief moment, the spotlight shifted from rumor and speculation to the hard glare of the camera, capturing the Clintons—flaws, frustrations, and all—on the record.