Bill Clinton to testify after Hillary Clinton deposition resumes
Hillary Clinton resumed closed-door testimony in the House Oversight Committee’s Epstein probe after the session was abruptly paused because of a photo leak, and bill clinton is scheduled to testify the next day. The two Clintons will give sworn, out-of-court depositions in Chappaqua, New York, with Bill Clinton set to appear on Friday, February 27 and Hillary Clinton scheduled for Thursday, February 26.
What happened in Chappaqua
Hillary Clinton’s testimony restarted after the pause that followed a photo taken inside the closed-door session. Democrats on the Republican-led House Oversight Committee defended Clinton and described the release of the photo as "completely against the rules. " The live coverage noted the hearing had already exceeded three hours into the closed-door testimony when the session resumed.
Photo leak and reactions
Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert was caught on camera leaving the deposition after she sent a photo of the former secretary of state to a conservative influencer. When asked if she had been reprimanded for sharing the photo, Boebert told press outside "there was no reprimanding" and said she did not break any rules. "I really admired her blue suit, so wanted to capture that for everyone, " she added. Minutes later, Boebert returned to the building where the deposition is taking place, accompanied by a small child on a tricycle.
Hillary Clinton's opening statement
In her opening statement, Hillary Clinton accused the Republican-led House Oversight Committee of "partisan political theater" and called on committee members to request President Donald Trump testify. Clinton said she has no information on Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and does not recall ever meeting or speaking to him.
Depositions: format and timing
Both depositions will take place near the Clintons’ house in Chappaqua rather than on Capitol Hill. The sessions are sworn, out-of-court testimony conducted as part of a congressional investigation: witnesses testify under oath, behind closed doors, and answer questions from committee lawyers and investigators. The sessions will be recorded, transcribed and filmed, and knowingly providing false statements can carry legal consequences. Congressional depositions are typically scheduled during normal business hours, often starting between 9-10am local time (14: 00-15: 00 GMT); the committee has not confirmed exact times, although earlier iterations of the subpoena had ordered a 10am (15: 00 GMT) appearance.
Bill Clinton's scheduled appearance
Bill Clinton is set to testify on Friday, February 27. He has previously said he took trips on Jeffrey Epstein's plane but denies any knowledge of, or involvement in, Epstein's crimes. The public record noted that there is no suggestion that appearing in the Epstein documents — millions of files relating to the late sex offender — implies any wrongdoing. The agreement for both Clintons to testify followed months of tense exchanges with Representative James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee.
Background on subpoenas and refusals
The Clintons initially resisted testifying, saying the inquiry was politically motivated, but eventually agreed after the House indicated it was prepared to move toward a bipartisan vote to hold them in contempt, a step that could have led to criminal charges. Representative James Comer said, "No one is accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing. We just have a lot of questions. " Bill Clinton’s deposition had been requested first for October 2025, then rescheduled for December; he declined the December date, citing a funeral. A follow-up subpoena set a new date of January 13, 2026, but he did not attend that session.
As the deposition continued, it remained unclear how long the hearing would last or whether lawmakers or Clinton herself would offer more public comments thereafter. Earlier in the day, James Comer said the testimony could take all day. The former secretary of state released a public statement before her deposition, and it is unclear in the provided context whether she will speak to journalists gathered at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center after her closed-door session. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, called for the release of the transcript of her deposition within the next 24 hours, but it is not known if the Republican-led committee will do so.
Edited by Oliver O'Connell and Adam Goldsmith, with Sarah Smith and Nada Tawfik reporting from Chappaqua, New York.
The House Oversight Committee’s work continues, with bill clinton’s appearance scheduled to follow his wife's testimony as the inquiry proceeds.
