CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. — Former President Bill Clinton provided sworn testimony Friday regarding his past associations with Jeffrey Epstein, addressing for the first time a viral photograph from newly released Department of Justice files that depicts him in a hot tub with an unidentified individual. Testifying before the House Oversight Committee in his hometown of Chappaqua, the 79-year-old former president maintained he had “no idea” of Epstein’s criminal enterprise and characterized the controversial image as a candid moment from a 2002 humanitarian mission to Brunei.
The Brunei Defense: ‘Exhausted’ After AIDS Initiative Tour
During the four-and-a-half-hour deposition, committee members presented Clinton with a photograph recently made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The image shows Clinton lounging in a hot tub next to a woman whose face was redacted by federal authorities.
Clinton testified that he was “almost sure” the photo was taken at a hotel in Brunei during the final leg of an Asian tour for his foundation’s AIDS initiative. He explained that the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, whom Clinton knew from his time in the Oval Office, had encouraged him to stay at a specific hotel and utilize the pool facilities.
“I don’t think I ever knew the photo was taken,” Clinton told investigators, according to sources familiar with the testimony. He stated he swam and used the tub for “five minutes” before retiring to bed “exhausted.” When pressed on the identity of the woman in the water, Clinton said he did not recognize her but noted that his traveling party and a Secret Service agent were present in the room at the time.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/EFTA00003170-Epstein-files-348-121925-2d563ca6fa84475f87e271403d5a1aa9.jpg)
Denials of Misconduct and Epstein Ties
The former president utilized the deposition to issue a firm rebuttal of any alleged wrongdoing. He testified under oath that:
- The woman in the photo was not a minor.
- He did not engage in sexual relations with the individual.
- He severed all ties with Epstein by 2005, years before the financier’s first solicitation conviction in Florida.
“I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” Clinton said in a statement released via social media following the hearing. He further asserted that had he known of Epstein’s “terrible crimes,” he would have “turned him in” himself.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(499x0:501x2):format(webp)/bill-clintgon-Epstein-files-347-121925-f93fb4888ab9412a8f966ec5d02599f6.jpg)
The ‘Epstein Files’ and Political Fallout
The deposition follows the Department of Justice’s release of over 3.5 million pages of documents and 180,000 images related to the late sex trafficker. This massive disclosure was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in late 2025.
The documents have reignited scrutiny of high-profile figures. While Clinton appears in numerous photos with celebrities like Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson—none of whom are accused of wrongdoing—his repeated travel on Epstein’s private jet, the “Lolita Express,” remains a focal point for investigators. House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) described the session as “productive,” noting that Clinton answered every question presented by the panel.
A Look Ahead
The committee is expected to release the full transcripts and video of the deposition in the coming days. As the Department of Justice continues to review an additional estimated 2.5 million pages of evidence, legal experts suggest this testimony may set a significant precedent for congressional oversight of former executives.
