Bill Clinton testifies 6 hours in Epstein probe — first former president subpoenaed by Congress

On Feb. 27, 2026, former President BCBill Clinton testified for more than six hours in a closed-door deposition at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Chappaqua, 🗽New York, before members of the House Oversight Committee. The session was part of the committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associate GMGhislaine Maxwell. It marked the first time a former U.S. president was compelled to testify before Congress under a congressional subpoena.

Clinton told lawmakers in his opening statement that he 'saw nothing' and 'did nothing wrong' related to Epstein. He denied knowing the identity of, or having sex with, a woman photographed with him in a jacuzzi — a photo released by the Justice Department in December 2025 as part of a tranche of Epstein case files. His attorney did not comment after the deposition.

Former Secretary of State HCHillary Clinton had testified the day before, Feb. 26, also for more than six hours in a closed-door session at the same location. After her deposition, Hillary Clinton spoke to reporters outside and called the questioning repetitive. BCBill Clinton left without addressing the press. Both Democrats and Republicans on the committee described both Clintons as cooperative.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) led the investigation. The committee had subpoenaed the Clintons after Justice Department releases in late 2025 showed BCBill Clinton's name and image appearing multiple times in Epstein's files. The subpoenas were among the first ever issued to former presidents to compel congressional testimony.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said Democrats had 'serious questions' for President Trump, noting that Trump appeared in the Epstein files 'almost more than anyone else besides GMGhislaine Maxwell.' Garcia said Democrats were formally requesting Trump's cooperation with the investigation.

The University of 🌴California, San Diego also announced on Feb. 27 that author and wellness figure Deepak Chopra's affiliation with the school would end in June, following CNN reporting about Chopra's close relationship with Epstein. Chopra's departure became part of the broader fallout as institutions distanced themselves from figures linked to Epstein's files.

The Epstein investigation has become a major political battleground. The DOJ released files in December 2025, and a separate Senate inquiry has examined Epstein's financial networks. Republicans have focused scrutiny on Democratic-linked figures including the Clintons and Reid Hoffman; Democrats have pointed to Trump's documented social relationship with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Clinton flew to Chappaqua on a private plane for the deposition. No transcript was immediately released. Congressional investigators said they may seek a public hearing if they believe witnesses were not fully cooperative, though both Republicans and Democrats described the Clintons as cooperative in preliminary statements.