Hillary Clinton says she 'wants to see truth come out' after Epstein deposition as photo leak pauses closed-door hearing
Hillary Clinton finished giving testimony in a closed-door deposition about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and said she wants to see the truth come out. The session ended after a day of questioning that was interrupted by a photo leak from inside the closed-door meeting with US lawmakers, a development that became a central grievance in the aftermath.
Hillary Clinton ends deposition and reiterates call for truth
After the deposition concluded, Hillary Clinton spoke outside the hearing and reiterated language from her opening statement, insisting she wants the truth to emerge. She said she has no information on Epstein's crimes and does not recall ever meeting or speaking to him. During the closed-door meeting with lawmakers she referred many questions to her husband, the former president.
Photo leak halts closed-door session
Proceedings were abruptly paused earlier in the day because of a photo leak from inside the closed-door session with United States lawmakers. Democrats on the Republican-led House Oversight Committee defended Clinton and characterized the release of the photo as completely against the rules.
Democrats defend Clinton and accuse committee of partisan political theater
Speaking outside the hearing, Clinton echoed her opening remarks that accused the Republican-led House Oversight Committee of partisan political theater and called on the committee to request President Donald Trump testify. Democrats criticized the handling of the session and framed the photo release as a procedural violation that undermined the closed nature of the deposition.
Bill Clinton set to testify Friday; prior plane trips and denials
That's one Clinton down, and one more to go. Former US President Bill Clinton is set to testify on Friday. Bill Clinton has previously said he took trips on Jeffrey Epstein's plane but denies any knowledge of, or involvement in, Epstein's crimes. The committee expects his deposition to follow Hillary Clinton's, and committee leadership has signaled anticipation of extended questioning.
Documents, Maxwell, transcripts and committee comments
Committee members noted that appearing in the Epstein documents — millions of files relating to the late sex offender — does not imply wrongdoing. Disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell appeared before the committee virtually earlier this month. A transcript of today's hearing and a video of Hillary Clinton testifying are expected to be released by the committee in the coming days.
After today's meeting, Chairman James Comer said he was confident that tomorrow's deposition with Bill Clinton will last even longer than this one. Live coverage was brought to a close at the end of the day with an indication that coverage would resume for the next deposition.
The hearing day and its interruptions prompted responses from multiple quarters: the former secretary and her team criticized the hearings as a distraction from President Donald Trump's own connection to Epstein and from the broader investigation into the late paedophile's other friendships; Democratic members defended Clinton against the photo release; and committee leadership pressed forward with plans for further depositions.
The item was edited by Oliver O'Connell and Ann Butler, with Sarah Smith and Nada Tawfik reporting from Chappaqua, New York.
