Bill and Hillary Clinton Set for Epstein Deposition
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to give sworn depositions on February 26-27, 2026 as part of a House Oversight Committee investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are set to appear before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into the network of influence and crime run by the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein,” according to Al Jazeera.
The depositions take place in Chappaqua, New York, near the Clintons’ home, rather than in Washington, D.C., after months of negotiation and threats of congressional contempt charges. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify on Thursday, February 26, followed by Bill Clinton on Friday, February 27.
Why Now?
A congressional deposition is sworn, out-of-court testimony given as part of a legislative investigation. Witnesses answer questions under oath, and their remarks are legally binding, meaning knowingly false statements can carry criminal penalties. In the Clintons’ case, they resisted appearing for months, arguing the subpoenas were politically motivated and legally invalid.
The House Oversight Committee, led by Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, has insisted the Clintons’ depositions are vital to its investigation into the Epstein network and related issues surrounding how federal authorities handled earlier probes. Comer’s committee has framed the inquiry as a comprehensive examination of how Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell operated a sex-trafficking ring, and how federal responses unfolded.
Hillary and Bill Clinton ultimately agreed to testify after the committee signaled it would pursue civil and criminal contempt charges if they continued to defy subpoenas. Some Democrats on the panel also backed the effort, making it politically risky for the Clintons to continue to refuse.
What’s The Issue
The House Oversight Committee is investigating multiple aspects of Epstein’s criminal network, including, alleged mismanagement of federal investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, both during and after his early legal troubles, the circumstances of Epstein’s 2019 death in federal custody, which has fueled controversy and legal scrutiny, how Epstein and Maxwell allegedly used social and financial influence to protect themselves from scrutiny, and broader questions about how the federal government responds to sex trafficking and prosecutorial decision-making.
Importantly, neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton is accused of criminal conduct. There is no public evidence that either engaged in Epstein’s criminal activities, or that they participated in wrongdoing. Rather, the focus of the depositions is on understanding connections, timelines and federal responses.
Courtesy of Matt Johnson (Flickr CC0)Clinton Associations
Bill Clinton’s connections to Epstein have been a key point of interest. Flight logs and records show that the former president flew on Epstein’s private plane multiple times in the early 2000s, often for charitable work associated with the Clinton Foundation. Clinton and his representatives say that these trips were tied to philanthropic efforts and that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal behavior at the time. “She testified that she doesn’t have any information on Epstein and does not recall ever meeting him, according to the opening statement she released on X,” according to The Guardian.
Photographs and documents released from the Justice Department’s massive trove of Epstein-related files also included images of Bill Clinton with Epstein and Maxwell in social contexts. Clinton’s team has emphasized that these images do not indicate wrongdoing and that his relationship with Epstein ended long before Epstein’s arrest in 2019.
Hillary Clinton’s connection is far more limited. There is no record of her having a personal relationship with Epstein, and she has repeatedly stated that she has no recollection of meeting him. She has acknowledged limited interactions with Maxwell at public events but insists she had no substantial engagement with either Maxwell or Epstein in any context related to their criminal behavior.
Political Stakes
The Clintons have been arguing that the depositions that have been put against them are because of the fact that they are politically motivated. The fact of the matter is, they are using their high-profile nature to score political points and distract from other more important issues at hand. In interviews leading up to the depositions, Hillary Clinton accused the Trump administration of stalling release of relevant files and engaging in a “cover-up” that undermines the transparency that congressional oversight should serve.
Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have pushed back, saying that uncovering all relevant information about Epstein’s network, including how influential figures interacted with him, is essential for accountability and for preventing similar abuses in the future. Comer has said that asking questions of the Clintons is not about allegations against them personally, but about obtaining information that could provide greater clarity on the scope of Epstein’s influence and the federal government’s handling of the case.
Looking Ahead
Transcripts and recordings released after the depositions will shape ongoing debates over Epstein’s contacts, federal response history and the role former leaders should play in answering tough questions about figures who wielded influence.
Sources:
The Guardian: Hillary Clinton testifies that she has no information on Epstein’s criminal activities in House oversight hearing – live
Al Jazeera: Bill and Hillary Clinton set for Epstein deposition: What to know
Featured Image Courtesy of Mike Mozart’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Matt Johnson’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
