On February 26, 2026, Hillary Clinton appeared before the U.S. House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York, marking a historic and highly scrutinized moment in the ongoing congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s network and crimes. The former Secretary of State, who has long been a lightning rod for political controversy, faced hours of closed-door questioning from lawmakers determined to unravel the extent of Epstein’s connections to the powerful and well-connected.
Clinton, in her prepared opening statement—shared both with the committee and posted on social media—left no room for ambiguity: “I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein.” According to the Associated Press, she further clarified, “I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that.” These words echoed throughout the day as Republicans and Democrats alike pressed for details on her knowledge of Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Her testimony was the result of months of tense negotiations and legal wrangling. The Clintons, both Hillary and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had initially resisted congressional subpoenas, arguing that they had already provided all relevant information in sworn statements. But with the threat of contempt of Congress charges looming—a rare and serious step that had already drawn bipartisan support in committee votes earlier in January—they reversed course and agreed to sit for depositions. As reported by The Hill, some Democrats joined Republicans in voting to hold the Clintons in contempt, underscoring the political gravity of the moment.
The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), sought answers not only about the Clintons’ ties to Epstein, but also about broader questions that have long swirled around the late financier: How did Epstein amass his vast wealth? What allowed him to mingle with some of the world’s most powerful men? And why did the Department of Justice, under multiple administrations, fail to pursue more aggressive charges after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor?
Comer, speaking to reporters outside the convention center in Chappaqua, emphasized the bipartisan nature of the investigation. “We have a lot of questions, and the purpose of the whole investigation is to try to understand many things about Epstein,” he said, as quoted by AP. “How did he accumulate so much wealth? How was he able to surround himself with some of the most powerful men in the world?” The committee’s focus, according to NewsNation reporting cited by The Hill, was narrowed to five key areas: the government’s handling of Epstein and Maxwell inquiries, the circumstances of Epstein’s death, U.S. efforts to combat sex trafficking, how Epstein and Maxwell leveraged powerful contacts to protect themselves, and possible ethics violations by public officials.
Hillary Clinton’s links to Epstein have long been the subject of speculation, fueled in part by conspiracy theories on the right and by the release of Department of Justice files that included photos of Bill Clinton with women whose faces were redacted. According to BBC reporting, Bill Clinton has acknowledged flying with Epstein for charitable trips in the early 2000s, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. He has stated he cut off ties with Epstein two decades ago and expressed regret for ever associating with him. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, maintained that she never met Epstein, though she admitted to having interacted with Maxwell “on a few occasions,” including at Clinton Foundation conferences and at the 2010 wedding of her daughter, Chelsea, which Maxwell attended.
Throughout the deposition, Clinton remained adamant that she had nothing to hide. In an interview with BBC the week prior, she described the Republican-led investigation as a “ruse to divert attention from questions about Trump’s association with Epstein,” adding, “We have nothing to hide. We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant.” She accused Chairman Comer of conducting a one-sided investigation designed to protect President Trump and other Republicans, stating, “This institutional failure is designed to protect one political party and one public official.”
Clinton’s criticisms extended beyond the committee’s focus on her and her husband. She chastised the panel for not doing more to ensure the release of Epstein-related files and for the Trump administration’s budget cuts to the State Department, which she argued hampered efforts to prevent sex trafficking. “If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done,” she said, as reported by The Hill. Clinton also called for investigations into President Trump and then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, arguing that a truly comprehensive inquiry would not shy away from scrutinizing any public official with ties to Epstein.
Republicans, for their part, relished the opportunity to question the Clintons. As BBC noted, Comer described the deposition as a bipartisan effort to show that “no one is above the law.” The committee’s membership at the deposition included high-profile Republican representatives such as Anna Paulina Luna, Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, William Timmons, John McGuire, Michael Cloud, and Eric Burlison, alongside ranking Democrat Robert Garcia and other Democratic members.
The Clintons’ agreement to testify marked a significant reversal from their earlier defiance—a move that, according to a spokesperson for Bill Clinton cited by BBC, set a precedent that “applies to everyone.” Indeed, Democrats on the committee seized on this precedent, with Rep. Robert Garcia calling for President Trump to also testify, arguing that Bill Clinton’s appearance opened the door for equal scrutiny of all high-profile figures connected to Epstein. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, interviewed by AP, said, “We want to hear from everyone,” emphasizing the need to “believe survivors.”
The hearings themselves, though closed to the public, played out in the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, a quiet hamlet north of New York City. Both sides had initially sparred over the format, with the Clintons pushing for public testimony to prevent selective leaks—a request ultimately not granted. Still, the proceedings drew intense media attention, with reporters from both sides of the aisle expected to address the press after each session.
As the dust settles on Hillary Clinton’s testimony and the political world braces for Bill Clinton’s appearance—the first by a former U.S. president before a congressional panel since Gerald Ford in 1983—one thing is clear: the quest for answers in the Epstein case is far from over. Lawmakers, survivors, and the public continue to demand transparency and accountability, wherever the evidence may lead.