By Caitlin Yilek
Updated March 2, 2026 — CBS News
The House Oversight Committee on Monday released video recordings of the closed‑door depositions of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton taken last week as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Hillary Clinton testified on Thursday and Bill Clinton on Friday. The committee uploaded lengthy recordings to its YouTube channel, roughly 4 hours and 35 minutes for Hillary and about 4 hours and 33 minutes for Bill. Both sessions took place in Chappaqua, New York.
Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer said obtaining the couple’s testimony was the result of a long effort to question them about what they knew of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving time on sex‑trafficking convictions. The Clintons have repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein or Maxwell committing crimes. Each gave opening remarks before answering questions.
In his deposition, Bill Clinton at times diverged from prepared remarks. He acknowledged a 1993 photo that appears to show him and Hillary shaking Epstein’s hand at a White House Historical Association fundraiser, and said neither of them recalled the handshake. He criticized the committee for summoning his wife for questioning but said it made sense for him to be asked about flights he took on Epstein’s plane.
Clinton said his first recollection of meeting Epstein came in 2002 on a flight. He testified that he took around four or five trips on Epstein’s plane to carry out Clinton Foundation work in Asia, Africa and northern Europe, and that he was once offered a separate ride from Florida to New York. Hillary Clinton called her husband’s flying on Epstein’s plane unfortunate and said she wished he had not done it.
Bill Clinton told the committee his relationship with Epstein ended in 2003, saying other donors became more involved with the foundation. He described Epstein as an interesting person but not someone he believed was deeply engaged with the foundation’s mission.
He confirmed writing a letter that appeared in a book for Epstein’s 50th birthday, saying he did not recall the reason for the contribution and that it was likely done at staff request. He was also shown a 1995 get‑well note to Epstein’s mother that resembled his handwriting; he said he did not recall writing it or meeting Epstein’s family.
Clinton denied ever having sexual encounters with anyone introduced to him by Maxwell, denied visiting Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, denied any interest in underage girls and denied witnessing sexual abuse during overseas trips on Epstein’s plane. He described a conversation with Donald Trump at an early‑2000s golf fundraiser in which Trump mentioned Epstein and a falling‑out over a real estate deal, and said he did not take that remark to imply anything sexual.
Hillary Clinton said she did not recall meeting Epstein but acknowledged she had been told, in preparation for the deposition, that Epstein attended a White House event. She said she knew nothing about him.
Hillary’s deposition included heated exchanges with Republican congresswomen. One confrontation followed after Rep. Lauren Boebert leaked a deposition photo to a right‑wing commentator in violation of the ground rules. A lawyer for Hillary raised the leak and the deposition paused briefly after she stood and said she was done with the behavior.
In another tense moment, Rep. Nancy Mace questioned how Hillary knew Howard Lutnick, now Commerce Secretary, citing an email from Lutnick to Epstein about an intimate event for Hillary at Cantor Fitzgerald. Hillary, noting her post‑9/11 work as New York senator and Lutnick’s role at Cantor Fitzgerald, pushed back when Mace interrupted; the two exchanged raised voices as Mace accused Hillary of obfuscation and denying solicitations of money from Epstein.
Bill Clinton said he had not seen Maxwell in about a decade or longer and described her as having been in a relationship with a mutual friend. Both Clintons reiterated they had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct.
This is a developing story.