Hillary Clinton denies knowing Epstein or Maxwell in House Oversight deposition, urges transparency

Hillary Rodham Clinton, testifying Feb. 19 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, denied under oath that she had any personal knowledge that would assist the committee in its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and urged broader transparency from the Justice Department.

Clinton, appearing after a subpoena issued by Chairman James Comer, repeatedly told questioners she had no recollection of meetings or communications with Epstein, and said she did not solicit donations from him. "I do not," she said when asked whether she had ever communicated with people associated with Epstein. In an opening statement she reiterated her long-standing work on trafficking policies and called the missing and redacted files in the public releases "infuriating," saying the committee should pursue the documents and witnesses who can provide substantive information.

The deposition opened amid disputes over audio, visual recording and the release of photographs. Counsel for the witness asked the committee to invite the press after members posted images taken inside the room; committee leaders said photos taken before testimony began had been posted and warned members not to release additional images.

Chairman Comer framed the investigation around financial and institutional records: "We are following the money," he said, describing subpoenas to banks and to government agencies. Majority counsel also conducted a rapid roll-call of more than 50 people associated in press reports with Epstein or Maxwell; Clinton answered "no," "not that I recall" or similar responses for most named individuals.

On questions about the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative, Clinton said she was not involved in creating CGI and had no knowledge that Epstein or Maxwell played a role in its founding. She said she had supported foundation work after leaving government and described CGI as a partnership vehicle that helped connect philanthropies and practitioners. When asked about a reported $20,000 contribution tied to a joint fundraising committee, she said the contribution was not within her recollection and that joint‑committee rules limited campaign coordination at the time.

Members pressed Clinton about Maxwell's attendance at her daughter Chelsea Clinton's 2010 wedding in Rhinebeck, N.Y.; Clinton said Maxwell attended as a guest of a longtime family friend, Ted Waite, and that she had no specific recollection of conversations with Maxwell. She said she had not visited Epstein properties, including his island or residences, and repeated, "I have never been on his island." When a committee member introduced an FBI interview excerpt suggesting Epstein directed a victim to lie about a former president the committee later provided the document Clinton declined to speculate about the document's redacted contents.

Clinton repeatedly urged the panel to seek records from the Justice Department, financial institutions and other witnesses. She criticized the reduction of career staff in the State Department's trafficking office, saying the Trump administration had cut "more than 70%" of career experts and delayed the annual trafficking report. "If they are incompetent or engaged in a cover up, you need to know," she said.

Ranking Member Robert Garcia and other Democrats challenged the committee on access and fairness, calling for the session to be public. Clinton asked that the deposition video be released within 24 hours and said public hearings often prompt new information.

The committee introduced several exhibits from DOJ and other files; Clinton told members she had seen some materials in preparation for testimony but said she could not vouch for all documents or unredacted excerpts. The committee also cited a court filing in the civil case Virginia Giuffre v. Ghislaine Maxwell that sought communications for several public figures; Clinton said she had not previously been made aware that her communications were sought.

The committee concluded after several hours. Comer said the panel would press on with subpoenas and document reviews; Clinton whose husband, former President Bill Clinton, is scheduled to be deposed the next day reiterated that she would cooperate where she could and urged the committee to focus on witnesses who have substantive information. "Sunlight is the best disinfectant," she said, urging public sessions when possible.

The deposition record remains under the committee's control pending transcript and exhibit processing; members said they would continue seeking records and testimony from law enforcement, Treasury, and other agencies as the investigation proceeds.