WASHINGTON — The House Oversight Committee on Monday released over nine hours of video footage documenting the depositions of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The release follows closed-door interviews conducted last week in Chappaqua, New York, marking a pivotal moment in the congressional inquiry into the couple’s historical ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The depositions, which lasted approximately four and a half hours each, represent the culmination of a months-long effort by Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) to secure formal testimony regarding the Clintons’ knowledge of Epstein and his imprisoned associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. While both Clintons maintained they had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal enterprise, the footage reveals new details regarding White House interactions, international travel, and partisan friction within the hearing room.
New Details on White House Contacts and International Travel
During his four-hour and 33-minute testimony, Bill Clinton addressed long-standing questions regarding the frequency and nature of his contact with Epstein. While he had previously downplayed the relationship, the former president admitted to a 1993 encounter that predates his previously acknowledged timeline.
The 1993 Handshake: Clinton testified that a photograph exists showing him and his wife shaking hands with Epstein during a White House Historical Association fundraiser in 1993. Both Clintons stated they had no memory of the encounter at the time.
Logistical Ties: Clinton confirmed taking several international flights on Epstein’s private aircraft between 2001 or 2002 and 2003, citing philanthropic work for the Clinton Foundation in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The 2003 Severance: The former president testified that he ended the association in 2003, claiming Epstein appeared disinterested in the Foundation’s mission.
Hillary Clinton, whose deposition lasted four hours and 35 minutes, maintained a stricter distance, stating “I don’t recall ever talking to Mr. Epstein. He wasn’t on my radar”, though she acknowledged being briefed on his attendance at White House events.
Heated Exchanges and Procedural Clashes
The atmosphere of the depositions turned volatile during Hillary Clinton’s testimony, particularly during interactions with Republican lawmakers. The proceedings were briefly halted following a confrontation with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO).
A lawyer for the former Secretary of State interrupted the session to allege that Boebert had leaked a photo of the deposition to a social media commentator in real-time, violating established ground rules.
“I’m done with this! If you guys are doing that, I am done,” Hillary Clinton told the committee before briefly exiting the room. “You can hold me in contempt from now until the cows come home.”
The tension continued during an exchange with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) regarding an email from Howard Lutnick—the current Commerce Secretary—to Epstein concerning a fundraiser for Clinton at Cantor Fitzgerald. When Mace accused her of trying to obscure the nature of her financial ties, Clinton responded sharply, citing her work as a New York Senator following the September 11 attacks.
Denials of Culpability and The “Trump Connection”
Under oath, Bill Clinton issued categorical denials regarding the most serious allegations linked to the Epstein case. He testified that he never visited Epstein’s private island, never witnessed or engaged in sexual abuse during overseas trips, and had no sexual contact with any individual introduced to him by Ghislaine Maxwell.
In an unexpected turn, Clinton also recounted a conversation from the early 2000s with Donald Trump about Epstein at a golf fundraiser, noting that Trump mentioned the two had “fallen out” over a real estate deal.
What’s Next for the Investigation
The release of these videos provides the public with the first unedited look at the Clintons’ defense against years of speculation. Chairman James Comer indicated that the committee will now cross-reference these testimonies with flight logs and previous statements from other Epstein associates to identify any potential inconsistencies.
