By Trendsetter Tribune 
CHAPPAQUA, NY — In a historic and combative closed-door session, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, February 26, 2026, asserting that she has “zero, zip, zilch, nada” information regarding the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein. The deposition, held at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center near her home, marks the first of two days of testimony that will include her husband, former President Bill Clinton, on Friday.
The proceedings were briefly derailed and paused after Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) allegedly violated committee rules by leaking a photo of Clinton during the testimony to a conservative social media influencer.
The Opening Salvo: “I Do Not Recall”
Hillary Clinton began the day by releasing an uncharacteristically blunt opening statement on social media, dismissing the investigation as a “fishing expedition” designed to protect the current administration.
- On Epstein: “I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein,” she told lawmakers. She explicitly denied ever flying on his private plane, visiting his island, or entering any of his properties.
- On Ghislaine Maxwell: While denying any connection to Epstein, she acknowledged meeting Maxwell at several Clinton Foundation events and noted Maxwell’s attendance at Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding.
- The “Trump” Counter-Punch: Clinton accused Chairman James Comer (R-KY) of using the Clintons as a distraction, arguing that if the committee were serious about the Epstein files, they would “ask President Trump directly and under oath about his involvement.”
The “Caved” Narrative vs. Public Demands
The Clintons agreed to the depositions only after the House moved to hold them in criminal contempt last month following their initial refusal to testify.
| Clinton Request | Committee Decision |
| Public Hearing | Denied. Chairman Comer insisted on closed-door transcribed depositions. |
| Sworn Written Statement | Rejected. The committee demanded in-person, filmed testimony. |
| Capitol Hill Venue | Waived. Lawmakers traveled to Chappaqua as part of the deal. |
“The committee justified its subpoena based on an assumption that I have information… Let me be as clear as I can. I do not.” — Hillary Clinton, Feb 26, 2026
A New Generation of Democrats
In a notable shift from previous decades, the current Democratic leadership did not rally to block the subpoenas. Many younger House Democrats joined Republicans in the contempt vote, citing a commitment to “transparency at all costs” regarding the Epstein network.
- Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA): While defending the lack of evidence against Clinton, he noted that “no one is above the law” and that the survivors of Epstein deserve a full accounting of his social and political web.
- The “Lutnick” Connection: Democrats on the panel used the occasion to call for testimony from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a former neighbor of Epstein, and FBI Director Kash Patel to explain recent redactions in the DOJ’s Epstein files.
What’s Next?
- Bill Clinton’s Turn: The former president is scheduled for a “lengthier” deposition on Friday, February 27. Unlike his wife, Bill Clinton appears in several DOJ files, including a photograph of him in a hot tub with an unidentified woman and others showing him with Maxwell.
- Transcript Release: Chairman Comer promised that the video and transcripts of both depositions will be released to the public, though no timeline was provided.
- Contempt Status: The threat of contempt remains “active” until the committee formally votes to clear the Clintons based on the quality of their cooperation.