Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified under oath for more than six hours on February 26, 2026, at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in New York. The closed-door session was part of the House Oversight Committee‘s investigation into the crimes of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Both Hillary and former President Bill Clinton had resisted the subpoenas for months, describing them as “invalid, unenforceable and politically motivated.”
About one hour in, the deposition was halted after Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) allegedly leaked a photo from inside the room to conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media — a breach of committee rules. The session resumed approximately 30 minutes later. Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said both depositions — Hillary’s and Bill Clinton’s (Feb 27) — would be “long and comprehensive.” The DOJ Epstein disclosures hub contains the 3.5 million pages released February 5, 2026, linked to this investigation.
Six Hours, One Closed Room, Thirty Cameras Waiting Outside
On February 26, 2026, Mrs. Clinton arrived at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Westchester County, New York. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee had subpoenaed both Clintons after six months of legal resistance. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the Ranking Member, confirmed Clinton cooperated fully and did not invoke her Fifth Amendment rights at any point during the session.
Source: DOJ Office of Public Affairs · CruxBuzz Grand Jury Coverage
From Florida 2008 to Chappaqua 2026: Every Key Date
Tap any event to read the detail. The investigation spans nearly two decades, from Epstein’s first Florida conviction to today’s deposition.
What Was Said, Word for Word
Every quote below comes directly from participants — from opening statements, transcribed remarks, and post-deposition press comments. Use the arrows to navigate.
On off-topic questions: Clinton reported being asked about Pizzagate — a debunked 2016 conspiracy theory linking Democrats to an alleged child sex-trafficking ring at a Washington D.C. restaurant — and about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). She said this was evidence of the hearing’s lack of focus. Rep. Thomas Massie had previously stated that Trump’s discussion of UAPs appeared designed to divert attention from the Epstein files. Clinton said she “knew Ghislaine as an acquaintance” and that Maxwell attended Chelsea’s wedding “as the plus one, the guest, of someone who was invited.”
A Photo Posted Online Stopped the Deposition Cold
About one hour into proceedings, a photograph showing Clinton testifying appeared on X, posted by conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. Here is the factual breakdown of what happened, what rule was violated, and how it was resolved.
What happened
A photo of Clinton testifying — described as showing a “weary expression” — was posted to X by Benny Johnson approximately one hour into the session. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was identified as the source of the leak. Clinton’s lawyers “vociferously objected” and called for journalists to be allowed inside to document proceedings.
The rule that was broken
House Oversight Committee rules bar any member from releasing testimony, transcripts, recordings, or images from a closed-door session without prior consultation with the Ranking Member. Full text: Committee Rules PDF ↗
Democratic response
Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) demanded Comer release the unedited transcript within 24 hours of the session’s conclusion and called for media access. Official: Garcia statement ↗
Resolution
Proceedings resumed after ~30 minutes. Comer committed to releasing video within 24 hours. The official transcript is held pending approval by Clinton’s legal team — standard deposition procedure. Clinton stated: “Well, I’m not going to do it again.”
Who Has Testified, What Is Public, and What Comes Next
All status data reflects publicly confirmed information as of February 27, 2026. Primary documents are linked directly from official government and committee pages — no third-party sources.
| Witness / Subject | Status | Date | Key Point | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie Wexner Retail billionaire, L Brands founder |
Complete | Feb 18–20 | Zero Republican members attended. Video publicly released. | oversight.house.gov ↗ |
| Hillary Clinton Former U.S. Secretary of State |
Complete | Feb 26 | 6+ hours. No Fifth Amendment. Photo leak pause ~30 min. Transcript pending legal approval. | Garcia Statement ↗ |
| Bill Clinton 42nd President of the United States |
Today — Feb 27 | Feb 27 | First former U.S. president compelled to testify. Photos in DOJ files. No wrongdoing accused by law enforcement. | CruxBuzz Epstein ↗ |
| DOJ Epstein Files 3.5 million pages, released Feb 5, 2026 |
Public | Feb 5, 2026 | Trump’s name appears 1,600+ times. Bill Clinton’s photos included. Available for public review. | DOJ Disclosures ↗ |
| Epstein Grand Jury Files Florida 2008 proceedings |
Court Pending | Ordered Jul 2025 | AG Bondi seeking court order for public release. 69% of Americans questioned DOJ transparency in poll at the time. | CruxBuzz Coverage ↗ |
What Else Was Happening on February 26, 2026
The deposition in Chappaqua was not the only major development that day. Four other international situations were simultaneously active. Click the map markers to explore each.
On the same day as the Clinton deposition, US and Iranian negotiators concluded a third round of indirect talks in Geneva. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said both sides “identified the main elements of a possible agreement.” Iran insisted uranium enrichment continue inside the country under IAEA oversight. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended. Technical teams are set to meet next week at IAEA headquarters in Vienna. US satellite imagery showed 11 F-22 stealth fighter aircraft — valued at approximately $143 million each — recently deployed at an Israeli base, totalling over $1.5 billion in assets. See CruxBuzz Iran nuclear coverage.
In a separate development, one US citizen was killed and one was injured in a speedboat incident with Cuban border personnel on February 25–26, 2026. A Florida-registered speedboat allegedly attempted to enter Cuban waters. Cuban authorities stated four people total were killed and six wounded. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated: “We’re going to find out exactly what happened here, and then we’ll respond accordingly.” A third individual on the boat held a K-1 (fiancé) visa. The US Embassy in Havana was seeking consular access to survivors.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that another round of Ukraine–Russia–US talks is likely to be held in the UAE next month. US officials met separately with representatives from both countries in Geneva on February 26. Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Plover, Wisconsin, said: “The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — there is no chance that will happen.” Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, briefed President Trump on potential military options regarding Iran on the same day. See the CruxBuzz Epstein UK fallout coverage for the political crisis in Britain triggered by the 3.5 million-page DOJ release.
Four Confirmed Developments to Follow
These are confirmed pending developments as of February 27, 2026 — based solely on statements from participants and official sources.
The Deposition Was Held. The Investigation Continues.
The House Oversight Committee’s closed-door deposition of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was conducted on February 26, 2026 at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in New York. Mrs. Clinton was questioned for more than six hours about the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The session was interrupted for approximately 30 minutes following a photograph leak attributed to Rep. Lauren Boebert. Proceedings resumed and concluded with post-session statements from both Democratic and Republican members of the committee.
Clinton stated after the session that she did not know Jeffrey Epstein and never flew on his plane or visited his properties. She confirmed that Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding as a “plus one” and that she knew Maxwell only as an acquaintance. She also confirmed she was asked about Pizzagate and UAPs during the session. Chairman Comer described the deposition as “productive” while Rep. Garcia demanded the unedited transcript be released within 24 hours. Bill Clinton’s deposition was scheduled to follow on February 27, 2026.
The DOJ Epstein disclosures hub hosts the 3.5 million pages released under congressional direction. The DOJ press release for the February 5 release is available for public review. The Ranking Member’s official statement and the Wexner deposition video are published on official committee pages.
