Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee on February 26, 2026, as part of a broad congressional investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his network of associates.
Clinton’s closed-door testimony came amid heightened public interest in Epstein-related records and ongoing scrutiny of high-profile figures mentioned in newly released files.
Clinton’s Testimony Before Congress
During her deposition, Clinton repeatedly stated that she had no knowledge of any criminal activity by Epstein or his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She said she never met Epstein, did not visit his properties, and did not travel on his private plane. Clinton also said she knew Maxwell only “casually” through social circles, such as Maxwell’s attendance at her daughter Chelsea Clinton’s wedding.
Clinton told lawmakers that she cooperated fully and answered every question put to her by committee members. She emphasized that she had previously provided a sworn written statement in January asserting her lack of any personal connection to Epstein or his crimes.
Her Response to Questioning
According to multiple reports, Clinton criticized the nature of some questions from Republican lawmakers, saying that parts of the session veered into unrelated topics, including inquiries about conspiracy theories such as UFOs and Pizzagate. She described these diversions as unproductive and said some questions appeared to reflect partisan motivations rather than a focus on Epstein’s criminal network.
Clinton told reporters after the session that she was asked “the same questions over and over” and reiterated that she had no recollection of ever encountering Epstein. She also stated she was “horrified to learn of his crimes” and urged a more comprehensive, non-partisan investigation into the broader circumstances that allowed Epstein’s misconduct to persist.
Accusations of Partisan Engagement
In her opening statement to the committee, Clinton accused Republican lawmakers of using her testimony as a tool to distract attention from questions about other figures, including former President Donald Trump, whose name also appears frequently in Epstein-related files. She described the inquiry as “political theatre” and suggested that questions should instead focus on uncovering more complete documentation of Epstein’s crimes and anyone who may have been involved.
Clinton additionally challenged the Republican focus by highlighting her long-standing advocacy against human trafficking and emphasized the need to protect victims and survivors in the course of any investigation.
Broader Investigation Context
The House Oversight Committee’s probe into Epstein’s network has included testimony from a range of individuals and examination of millions of pages of documents released under federal transparency measures. Some records mention Clinton’s name in contexts such as campaign fundraising or political communications, but multiple analyses have found no verified direct interactions between Clinton and Epstein in those documents.
Former President Bill Clinton, who has acknowledged past social ties with Epstein, is scheduled to testify after Hillary Clinton’s session to address questions related to his interactions with Epstein prior to the financier’s criminal convictions.
What She Maintains
Clinton has consistently stated she has no personal or professional knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and that she was not involved in any wrongdoing. She has urged a thorough investigation that goes beyond political rhetoric and focuses on accountability, transparency, and learning from the failures that allowed Epstein’s criminal conduct to continue.
