CHAPPAQUA, N.Y., February 27, 2026 — By Cubui

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stepped out of a closed-door House Oversight deposition Thursday and immediately challenged the way it was conducted — arguing that Republicans should have allowed the session to be public from the start.

“I answered every one of their questions as fully as I could,” Clinton told reporters outside her home in Chappaqua. “I wish they had done it in public.”

The deposition, tied to the broader congressional review of materials connected to Jeffrey Epstein, quickly became another front in the escalating political fight over transparency, narrative control, and who should be called next.

“I Never Met Jeffrey Epstein”

Clinton stated repeatedly that she never met Epstein, never traveled to his island, and had no communication with him. She acknowledged having known Ghislaine Maxwell casually, but denied deeper involvement.

“I don’t know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein,” she said, describing the questioning as repetitive.

She also criticized portions of the deposition she said veered into unrelated territory, including references to conspiracy theories such as “Pizzagate” and UFOs.

The Public vs. Private Battle

Clinton said she requested that the deposition be conducted publicly. Republicans, including Oversight Chair James Comer, opted for a closed session.

Tensions flared early when a Republican member reportedly took and circulated a photo during the proceeding — an action Clinton said violated agreed-upon rules. The session briefly paused before continuing.

Comer later told reporters that Clinton appeared unconcerned when shown photographs involving her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and Epstein.

Clinton responded directly to questions about her husband’s past association with Epstein, stating that his interactions ended years before Epstein’s criminal conduct became public and that she is confident in his testimony.

The Wedding Question

One line of questioning centered on Maxwell’s attendance at Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding.

Clinton said Maxwell attended as a “plus one” of another invited guest and was not personally invited by her family.

Republican members characterized that answer differently, suggesting it raises additional questions. Democrats counter that such appearances do not establish wrongdoing.

The Bigger Political Fight

Democratic members, including Maxwell Frost, have called for full transcripts and video of the deposition to be released immediately, arguing that selective summaries distort the record.

Republicans have defended their handling of the proceedings and maintain that the investigation should continue broadly.

Meanwhile, some Democrats have renewed calls for former President Donald Trump to testify, citing references to him in released materials. Trump has denied wrongdoing and says he has been “fully exonerated.”

A Political Turning Point?

Clinton’s press conference had the tone of a counteroffensive — disciplined, direct, and unapologetic.

Rather than retreating from the spotlight, she leaned into it, pressing for public hearings and faster document releases.

Whether that strategy reshapes the broader debate over the Epstein investigation remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the battle is no longer just about the contents of the files.

It’s about who controls the narrative — and whether the American public will get to see the full record for themselves.