Clinton Deposition: First Ex-President Subpoenaed in Epstein Probe

WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – Former President Bill Clinton appeared for a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Friday, February 27, 2026, becoming the first former U.S. president compelled to testify before Congress under subpoena. During his testimony, Clinton vehemently denied any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities, stating he “did nothing wrong” and saw no signs of abuse during their acquaintance. The highly anticipated deposition, which took place in Chappaqua, New York, is a key part of the House Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the network of powerful individuals connected to him.

Clinton’s appearance followed a similar deposition by his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a day earlier. While neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing, the committee’s probe seeks to understand the extent to which powerful figures were aware of or facilitated Epstein’s illicit activities. Republican lawmakers, particularly House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, have emphasized the importance of accountability for individuals of wealth and power, asserting that the American public has many unanswered questions.

Bill Clinton Denies Wrongdoing in Epstein Testimony

In his prepared opening statement, released by his office, former President Bill Clinton asserted that his “brief acquaintance with Jeffrey Epstein ended years before his crimes came to light.” He reiterated, “I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” and added, “I saw nothing that ever gave me pause.” The statement also took aim at Republicans for involving his wife, claiming that Hillary Clinton “had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” had “no memory of even meeting him,” and neither traveled with him nor visited any of his properties. Clinton characterized her subpoena as a partisan tactic.

Despite his insistence on limited knowledge, Bill Clinton’s relationship with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell has been well-documented. Epstein reportedly visited the White House 17 times during Clinton’s presidency, and Clinton himself flew on Epstein’s private airplane 27 times, according to claims made by Representative Comer. Photos showing Clinton with Epstein and Maxwell surfaced in Department of Justice case files, intensifying calls for his testimony. Hillary Clinton had previously stated that she expected her husband to testify that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s sexual abuse at the time they knew each other, emphasizing that the connection predated the public revelation of Epstein’s criminal activities.

Political Implications and Calls for More Testimony

The deposition has spurred further political debate, with Democrats arguing that the precedent set by compelling a former president to testify should also apply to former President Donald Trump. Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, explicitly called for Trump to testify regarding his own connections to Epstein, urging him to “man up” and answer questions rather than dismiss the investigation as a “hoax.” Representative Comer, however, has pushed back on this comparison, stating that Trump has already addressed questions from the press.

Beyond the former presidents, Democrats are also pressing for the resignation and testimony of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick, a former neighbor of Epstein, had claimed to sever ties after a disturbing visit to Epstein’s home in 2005. However, publicly released case files revealed that Lutnick had subsequent engagements with Epstein, attending an event at his home in 2011 and having lunch with Epstein and his family on Epstein’s private island in 2012. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican, questioned Hillary Clinton about Lutnick’s ties and has joined calls for him to appear before the committee. Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat, expressed confidence that there would be sufficient votes to subpoena Lutnick.

House Oversight Committee’s Ongoing Investigation

The House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein continues to unfold, aiming to uncover the full scope of his activities and the complicity of those around him. The depositions of Bill and Hillary Clinton represent significant milestones in this probe, signaling a commitment by lawmakers to scrutinize even the most powerful figures. The committee has indicated its intention to publish transcripts and video recordings of the depositions, beginning with Hillary Clinton’s testimony, to provide transparency to the public.

The unprecedented nature of a former U.S. president being compelled to testify before Congress underscores the enduring legal and political ramifications of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, highlighting the increasing pressure for accountability across all levels of society.