USA27 February, 20262 min read
Former President Bill Clinton Denies Wrongdoing In Closed-Door Epstein Deposition
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Former President Bill Clinton sat for a closed-door, roughly six-hour deposition in Chappaqua, New York Former President Bill Clinton repeatedly denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, saying "I saw nothing"
61 outlets told this the same way.
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Clintons' depositions summary
Former President Bill Clinton gave a closed-door deposition Friday to the Republican-led House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York. The appearance was described as the first time a former U.S. president has been compelled to testify to Congress. He opened by denying any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, repeatedly saying he "saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong."
“Not only would I have not flown on Epstein’s plane if I had known any inkling of what he was doing. I would have turned him in myself.”
Clinton's appearance followed a similar, day-earlier deposition by Hillary Clinton, and committee officials said transcripts and video would be released after review. The session lasted roughly six to seven hours, and many news outlets described the event as unprecedented in U.S. congressional history.
Clinton's Epstein contacts
Clinton acknowledged limited past contact with Epstein, saying he flew on Epstein’s plane for foundation-related travel in the early 2000s. He said he had cut off contact long before Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea. He denied visiting Epstein’s private island and rejected suggestions in released images as proof of misconduct.
He said he would not have flown on Epstein’s plane had he known of abuse. He said Epstein "hid it from everyone so well for so long."
Justice Department materials and flight records cited by investigators show Clinton’s name in files and images. Some outlets noted that being photographed or named in those documents "does not by itself imply wrongdoing."
Committee probe of Clinton ties
Republicans on the committee, led by Chair James Comer, pressured Clinton with records, photos and alleged travel ties. They publicly cited counts of Epstein’s visits to the White House and flights tied to Clinton, but Republican claims about those totals varied across outlets. Comer asserted high numbers of visits and flights while Democrats called aspects of the presentation incomplete.
“The Republican‑led House Oversight Committee held closed‑door depositions with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about their ties to Jeffrey Epstein.”
The Clintons initially resisted subpoenas but agreed to testify after threats of contempt. Republicans said the depositions are meant to hold powerful people accountable and to probe whether any files were withheld by the Justice Department.
Depositions and reactions
Democrats on the panel pushed back, calling parts of the inquiry politically motivated. They urged that the committee also seek testimony from former President Donald Trump, whose name appears in Epstein-related files. Some Democrats said the depositions could set a precedent for compelling sitting or former presidents to answer under oath.
The committee said it will make deposition transcripts and accompanying video publicly available. Members from both parties signaled potential further subpoenas for associates referenced in the files.
Coverage of Epstein files
Key facts remain contested or ambiguous: news organizations cite different tallies for trips. The Justice Department-released files include redactions and images with anonymized women. Some witnesses’ public statements conflict over events such as whether Clinton ever visited Epstein’s island.
“Virginia Giuffre has said he was there (without accusing wrongdoing), while Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein-era communications have denied it.”
Outlets noted that appearing or being named in the Epstein files has not amounted to criminal accusations for the Clintons. Reporting emphasized that the depositions produced denials rather than new criminal charges. Investigators said they will review transcripts, video and related documents before drawing conclusions.
