Hillary Clinton fielded a wide range of questions Thursday as she arrived for her deposition before the House Oversight Committee and according to her, the topics were anything but ordinary.
Speaking to reporters outside the session, the former Secretary of State said lawmakers pressed her on issues stretching from Jeffrey Epstein to long-debunked internet conspiracy theories like “Pizzagate,” and even unidentified flying objects.
Clinton described the line of questioning as increasingly bizarre toward the end. She noted that she was asked about UFOs and what she called one of the most toxic conspiracy theories to circulate online during the 2016 election cycle. The so-called “Pizzagate” claim which falsely alleged that Democratic figures were tied to a child trafficking ring has been thoroughly discredited and repeatedly debunked.
The UFO questions surfaced shortly after President Trump directed the Pentagon to review and release additional material related to unidentified aerial phenomena, following renewed public interest sparked by recent political commentary.
Addressing the Epstein matter directly, Clinton said she did not know Jeffrey Epstein. She acknowledged that she had met Ghislaine Maxwell socially in the past, describing her as merely an acquaintance. Clinton also stated that while former President Bill Clinton had traveled on humanitarian trips where Epstein was present, those connections ended years before Epstein’s criminal conduct became widely known.
She emphasized that appearing in investigative documents does not imply wrongdoing and reiterated that neither she nor her husband has been charged with any crime related to the case. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state-level charges involving prostitution and later served 13 months in jail. Controversy has long surrounded the plea agreement he received, which shielded him from more severe federal charges at the time.
Bill Clinton is expected to testify before the committee as well, marking a rare moment in which a former president provides sworn testimony to Congress. Democrats have called for full transparency, urging Republican leadership to release video footage and transcripts of the depositions.
Tensions flared during Thursday’s proceedings after a photograph taken during the closed-door session was shared publicly by a Republican lawmaker through a third party, prompting objections from Democrats and a temporary pause in the testimony.
Democratic members of Congress have also argued that if former officials are being called to testify, the same standard should apply broadly. Some have pointed out that President Trump’s name has appeared in Epstein-related documents, though he has denied any wrongdoing. Oversight Committee Chair James Comer stated that a sitting president cannot be compelled to testify before the panel.
The Epstein case continues to reverberate through Washington, with ongoing debate over transparency, accountability, and the treatment of survivors. Earlier this week, several Democratic lawmakers invited survivors and family members connected to Epstein’s victims to attend a joint session of Congress. They emphasized that survivors deserve recognition, accountability, and sustained attention rather than political deflection.
As the investigation unfolds, both parties remain locked in a broader dispute over how the case has been handled — and who should ultimately answer questions before the public.
