Congress Releases Videos of Clintons' Testimony on Epstein Ties

The House Oversight Committee has released videos of the closed-door depositions of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which occurred last week as part of the panel’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The Clintons faced roughly 4 ½ hours of questioning from Democratic and Republican lawmakers in their home city of Chappaqua, New York.

The much-anticipated depositions were the result of weeks of political and legal tussling that included the Clintons initially declining to testify. After House Republicans threatened to hold both in contempt of Congress, for which they could have faced criminal charges, the Clintons agreed to appear for the in-person depositions.

While Bill Clinton has a more documented relationship with Epstein, it was Hillary Clinton’s deposition that was often the more animated of the two. She repeatedly raised her voice with congressional Republicans who she suggested were out for political gain rather than real information. Bill Clinton, with a calmer demeanor and visibly shaking hands, denied having any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes during what he said was the pair’s “brief acquaintance.”

Lawmakers repeatedly showed the former president photos from Epstein materials recently released by the Justice Department, asking whether he had sex with the women in them. Each time, Bill Clinton told them he did not.

Hillary Clinton tangled especially with some of the more outspoken female Republicans on the House Oversight Committee, balking at their questions about her husband’s ties to Epstein and the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory. She became furious when one of them shared a picture of her testifying, which is against House rules.

In one of the most dramatic moments during Hillary Clinton's deposition, one of her lawyers informed the room that a photo from inside the deposition room had been leaked to the public. Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert admitted to sharing a photo from inside the room but said it was before the hearing began. Her photo had been shared on social media by a conservative influencer.

Clinton banged her fist on the table and said, “it doesn't matter. We are all abiding by the same rules.” She then stood up from her chair and declared she was done, leading to a pause in the hearing. When it reconvened, Clinton's lawyer scolded the committee over leaking the image.

Several hours into the hearing, Republican Lauren Boebert brought up the issue of “Pizzagate,” a debunked conspiracy theory that a pedophilia ring linked to Hillary Clinton's inner circle was operating out of a Washington DC pizzeria. After some back and forth, Clinton answered that Pizzagate was totally made up and an outrageous allegation.

Bill Clinton denied engaging in any sexual activity related to a photo of him in a hot tub near a woman whose face was redacted. He said he thought everyone in the pool area was part of his travel party, which included Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and a team working on Clinton’s HIV/AIDS initiative. Clinton stressed that the sultan of Brunei insisted that he stay at the hotel and encouraged him to use the pool.

Bill Clinton also acknowledged authoring a birthday greeting for Epstein but downplayed it, saying he had written “hundreds and hundreds” of such greetings over the years. He denied knowing about Epstein’s inappropriate activities at the time he penned the note.

The Clintons' depositions have set a precedent for future depositions of high-profile figures, including President Donald Trump, who has been asked to testify by Democratic members of the committee.