Published: 27 February 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified on Thursday before the Republican‑controlled House Oversight Committee as part of a high‑profile congressional investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. In a deposition held in Chappaqua, New York, Clinton told lawmakers she had “no idea” about Epstein’s criminal activities and denied any personal knowledge of their scope, saying she had “nothing to add” beyond previous statements.
Clinton’s closed‑door testimony — reportedly lasting more than six hours — came after months of political contention over access to government files related to Epstein’s sex‑trafficking crimes and renewed focus on how prominent figures were connected to his orbit. Clinton said she did not recall ever encountering Epstein, had never flown on his private plane, and never visited his island residences or other properties. She also said that while she knew Maxwell socially through mutual contacts and foundation events, she possessed no relevant information about criminal conduct.
The deposition marks an unusual moment in US political scrutiny: the committee has scheduled similar questioning of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, as it seeks to clarify associations between Epstein’s network and high‑profile political and business figures whose names appear in millions of pages of government documents.
Clinton’s appearance was initially resisted, with her team pushing for a public hearing; the panel agreed to closed‑door testimony first. Afterward, she criticised the session as “political theatre” and suggested that the effort to compel her testimony was intended by Republicans to distract from questions about President Donald Trump’s connections to Epstein. The former secretary of state reiterated her horror over Epstein’s offences and called for transparency in the release of all investigative files.
Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, has denied that the inquiry is a partisan exercise, stating that the focus remains on understanding Epstein’s criminal network and the possible influence of powerful individuals linked to him. Neither Clinton has been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s crimes.
The investigation has drawn intense media coverage and political debate, with supporters of the committee urging full disclosure of all relevant documents and critics arguing that the process has veered into partisan conflict. Former Clinton allies say the focus on her presence in Epstein files does not imply misconduct, while others say heightened scrutiny of Epstein’s relationships with political elites is necessary for public accountability.
Clinton’s testimony sets the stage for the next day’s scheduled questioning of Bill Clinton, and the committee has signalled it plans to release transcripts and video recordings of the depositions to bolster public understanding of the proceedings.



























































































