Hillary Clinton says she has no knowledge of Epstein crimes and does not recall meeting him

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told House lawmakers during a closed-door deposition in New York that she had no information about the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and said she does not remember ever meeting Epstein.

In an opening statement shared publicly, Clinton said she was unaware of their crimes and expressed horror at what has since come to light. Her testimony marked the beginning of two days of depositions that are also set to include former President Bill Clinton.

The depositions are taking place in Chappaqua, New York, following months of dispute between the Clintons and the Republican-led House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers had rejected written statements previously offered by the couple and moved forward with subpoenas, with Committee Chairman James Comer warning of potential contempt proceedings.

Hillary Clinton acknowledged that her husband had traveled on trips connected to Epstein’s charitable work but reiterated that she did not recall personal interactions with him. She confirmed having encountered Maxwell at events hosted by the Clinton Foundation and noted that Maxwell attended their daughter Chelsea’s wedding in 2010.

Bill Clinton has faced renewed scrutiny after photographs of him appeared in documents released by the Department of Justice earlier this year. However, he has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein.

The investigation also aims to examine how Epstein secured a controversial 2008 plea agreement in Florida that allowed him to avoid federal charges after pleading guilty to state prostitution charges involving a minor. Lawmakers are probing why further federal action was not pursued at the time.

Hillary Clinton criticized the committee’s approach, accusing Republicans of conducting a politically selective inquiry that fails to scrutinize other prominent figures, including Donald Trump. Trump previously authorized the release of additional Epstein-related files after facing public pressure.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the committee have called for broader accountability. Representative Robert Garcia, the panel’s top Democrat, said that if former presidents are being questioned, Trump should also appear before the committee. Committee leadership has stated that a sitting president cannot be deposed.

The renewed congressional focus reflects ongoing public pressure for transparency regarding Epstein’s network and the powerful individuals who associated with him before his 2019 death in federal custody while awaiting trial.

Lawmakers from both parties have indicated that the investigation will continue, with additional witnesses potentially being called as the committee seeks answers about Epstein’s wealth, connections, and the handling of prior criminal cases.