Hillary Clinton Deposition Derailed: Lauren Boebert Leaks Photo to Benny Johnson in Jeffrey Epstein Hearing
Hillary Clinton's long-awaited deposition before the House Oversight Committee turned into instant chaos on Thursday, February 26, 2026 ET, after Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed the closed-door proceedings in Chappaqua, New York, and sent the image directly to conservative influencer Benny Johnson — triggering an abrupt halt, Democratic fury, and a fresh national controversy before Clinton had even finished her first hour of testimony.
How the Hillary Clinton Deposition Photo Leak Unfolded
The Clinton deposition was paused Thursday afternoon after Lauren Boebert took an unauthorized photo of Clinton and sent it to conservative influencer Benny Johnson. Taking a photo during an ongoing deposition and sharing it on social media is a violation of House rules.
Clinton adviser Nick Merrill told reporters outside the room that the hearing went off the record because a photograph had been shared on social media in violation of the rules read at the start of the meeting. "The hearing is paused briefly while they figure out where the photo came from and why possibly members of Congress have violated that rule," Merrill said. "Look at Benny Johnson's feed."
Benny Johnson Posts the Image, Boebert Shows No Remorse
Johnson posted the image of the closed-door proceeding on X, writing that Boebert shared the photo with him and described it as the first image of Clinton testifying under oath about Jeffrey Epstein.
When reporters asked Boebert why she had shared the photo as she left the deposition for a break, the Colorado Republican was blunt. "Why not?" she responded. Boebert reshared Johnson's post on X and wrote, "Benny did nothing wrong. Proceeding with deposition."
Hillary Clinton Denies Any Knowledge of Epstein in Opening Statement
Despite the chaos surrounding the photo leak, the substance of the Clinton deposition was no less significant. Clinton told the committee she has no new information about Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, and did not invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at any point during her questioning.
In her opening statement, Clinton said she had no idea about Epstein's criminal activities and did not recall ever encountering him. She stated she never flew on his plane or visited his island home or offices. Clinton also accused the Republican-led panel of conducting partisan fishing expeditions by forcing herself and former President Bill Clinton to appear.
Democrats Demand Repercussions Against Lauren Boebert
Ranking member Robert Garcia of California told reporters during a break in the deposition that what Boebert did was completely against the rules and there should be repercussions. Garcia said Clinton was fully cooperating with the deposition and answering questions in good faith, and called it gracious of the secretary and her team to continue despite the rules violation.
Garcia said what was not acceptable was Oversight Republicans breaking their own committee rules that they had established with the secretary and her team. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said the full deposition is being recorded on video and both sides will have an opportunity to review it before release.
Bill Clinton Deposition Set for Friday, February 27 ET
The Hillary Clinton deposition in Chappaqua marked only the first chapter of what the committee promises will be an extensive process. The closed-door depositions are taking place in Chappaqua, New York — the Clintons' hometown — after months of tense back-and-forth between the couple and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee.
Comer said the deposition of former President Bill Clinton on Friday will be even longer than Thursday's session with Hillary, and pledged to release transcripts and video as soon as all parties approve the materials. No one has accused the Clintons of wrongdoing, Comer said, but the committee is trying to understand how Epstein operated.
The Bigger Picture: Epstein Investigation and Clinton's Call for Trump Testimony
Clinton used her opening statement to call for lawmakers to question President Donald Trump under oath, though Trump is not accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. She also framed the Epstein case in sweeping terms, describing his alleged sex trafficking operation as a global scourge rather than a one-off tabloid sensation.
The committee initially scheduled the Clinton depositions for October before Comer accused the couple of giving the panel the runaround for six months. The Clintons had originally volunteered to testify at a public hearing, but Comer insisted on a closed-door interview as standard committee practice before any public proceedings. The Boebert photo leak, meanwhile, has already intensified calls from Democrats for a formal investigation into whether a sitting member of Congress violated House rules — and what consequences, if any, should follow.
