Hillary Clinton has moved to defend her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, on Thursday, saying that Clinton ended his association with Jeffrey Epstein years before Epstein's criminal conduct became widely known.
The former First Lady made the remarks after a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York. Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify on 27 February at the same location as part of the committee's investigation into Epstein and related matters.
Hillary Clinton's Describes Her Testimony 'Repetitive'
Speaking briefly to reporters after approximately six hours of testimony, Clinton said she answered questions to the best of her ability and described the session as 'long' and 'repetitive.'
In a statement shared publicly, she said she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and did not recall ever meeting him. She also said she never flew on his plane or visited any of his properties. Regarding Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Clinton said she knew Maxwell 'casually as an acquaintance' through public events but had no awareness of her criminal conduct.
During a press exchange following the deposition, a reporter asked Clinton directly about photographs of her husband with women that appear in files related to the Epstein investigation. Clinton responded, 'I think the chronology of the connection that he had with Epstein ended several years before anything about Epstein's criminal activities came to life.'
During the closed-door questioning, according to multiple media reports, Clinton frequently responded 'I don't know' when asked about specific details of Epstein's connections to the Clinton Foundation or the Clinton Global Initiative.
JUST IN: Reporter asks Hillary Clinton to her face about the photos of her husband with other women in the Epstein files.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 26, 2026
Reporter: Your husband, Bill Clinton, is referenced in the Epstein files numerous times, including in some photos featuring women...
Clinton: I think the... pic.twitter.com/5ZKB8CjD9g
On several occasions, she reportedly said, 'You'll have to ask my husband,' signalling that Bill Clinton would address questions about his own interactions.
Bill Clinton's Reported Ties to Epstein
Bill Clinton has previously acknowledged flying on Epstein's private jet multiple times between 2002 and 2003. Flight logs reviewed in media reports over the years indicate he took at least 16 trips during that period, often connected to Clinton Foundation work, including international initiatives related to global health and economic development.
Photos and records show meetings between Clinton and Epstein in the early 2000s, including appearances at foundation-related events. Epstein also visited the White House during Clinton's presidency in the 1990s, according to visitor logs.
In 2019, after Epstein's arrest, a spokesperson for Bill Clinton said he 'knows nothing about the terrible crimes' committed by Epstein and had not been in contact with him for well over a decade prior to the arrest. The spokesperson also said Clinton had never visited Epstein's private island.
For now, no charges of any criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein have been made against either Bill or Hillary Clinton.
Focus Shifts to Bill Clinton
The depositions stem from subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee in July 2025. Lawmakers have said the inquiry is focused on federal handling of the Epstein investigation, including his 2008 plea deal and his 2019 death in federal custody.
Committee Chair James Comer has indicated that members expect Bill Clinton to provide more detailed answers about the nature and timeline of his interactions with Epstein.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton said she believes the majority of individuals who associated with Epstein before his 2008 conviction were unaware of his criminal activity. She added that Bill Clinton would likely testify similarly.
Now that Hillary has testified, attention turns to Bill Clinton's testimony, which could clarify the scope and timeline of his relationship with the financier.
