Chaos erupts as Hillary Clinton HALTS her Epstein testimony after MAGA lawmaker took photo of closed-door deposition
Hillary Clinton's Epstein testimony was halted after a photo was leaked to a MAGA influencer
Posted For: Landru
Chaos disrupted Hillary Clinton’s closed-door deposition Thursday in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation after Rep. Lauren Boebert allegedly took a photograph during the private session and shared it outside the room.
According to reports, Boebert snapped a photo of Clinton and her legal team as she addressed lawmakers about her knowledge of Epstein. The image was later circulated on social media, reportedly by influencer Benny Johnson. House rules strictly prohibit photographs during closed-door congressional testimony.
Clinton’s attorneys requested a temporary halt to the proceedings once the image began spreading online. The deposition, held at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center near the Clintons’ home in Westchester County, New York, resumed within an hour. The session is being recorded, though any released footage will first be reviewed by Clinton’s legal team. Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify Friday.
A spokesperson for Clinton told the Daily Mail that the pause was necessary because chamber rules — read at the start of the meeting — prohibit photography during private hearings.
Before the interruption, Clinton delivered a forceful opening statement criticizing Republicans for focusing on her while, she argued, failing to investigate President Donald Trump’s connections to Epstein. She stated she had “no information” regarding Epstein’s criminal activities and said she does not recall meeting him.
“You have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers,” she said.
“If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files,” she added.
Trump’s name appears in documents released by the Department of Justice related to Epstein. Clinton argued the committee should focus its efforts more broadly, asking, “What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?”
Despite denying any relationship with Epstein, records show Clinton received a $20,000 donation from him in 1999 during Democratic National Committee fundraising efforts. Ghislaine Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking offenses.
Flight logs from Epstein’s private jet show Bill Clinton traveled on multiple trips after leaving office, including to the Virgin Islands, Portugal, Siberia, Japan, and China. He has said those trips were connected to charitable initiatives. Photos contained in Epstein-related files have also drawn renewed scrutiny.
The Clintons initially resisted a House Republican subpoena but agreed to testify after facing potential contempt proceedings. The House Oversight Committee, chaired by James Comer, has indicated deposition videos and transcripts will be released following legal review.
Lawmakers were also asked whether they would question Clinton about an email found in the Epstein files referencing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and a 2016 campaign fundraising event. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace said the matter would be on her list of questions.
The broader investigation examines the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein’s case. Maxwell previously invoked her Fifth Amendment rights during questioning tied to the inquiry.
Below is Hillary Clinton’s full prepared statement to the committee:
“Mr Chairman, Ranking Member, Members of the Committee… as a former Senator, I have respect for legislative oversight and I expect its exercise, as do the American people, to be principled and fearless in pursuit of truth and accountability.
As we all know, however, too often Congressional investigations are partisan political theater, which is an abdication of duty and an insult to the American people.
The Committee justified its subpoena to me based on its assumption that I have information regarding the investigations into the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Let me be as clear as I can. I do not.
As I stated in my sworn declaration on January 13, I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that.
Like every decent person, I have been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes. It’s unfathomable that Mr. Epstein initially got a slap on the wrist in 2008, which allowed him to continue his predatory practices for another decade.
Mr. Chairman, your investigation is supposed to be assessing the federal government’s handling of the investigations and prosecutions of Epstein and his crimes. You subpoenaed eight law enforcement officials, all of whom ran the Department of Justice or directed the FBI when Epstein’s crimes were investigated and prosecuted. Of those eight, only one appeared before the Committee. Five of the six former attorneys general were allowed to submit brief statements stating they had no information to provide.
You have held zero public hearings, refused to allow the media to attend them, including today, despite espousing the need for transparency on dozens of occasions.
You have made little effort to call the people who show up most prominently in the Epstein files. And when you did, not a single Republican Member showed up for Les Wexner’s deposition.
This institutional failure is designed to protect one political party and one public official, rather than to seek truth and justice for the victims and survivors, as well as the public who also want to get to the bottom of this matter. My heart breaks for the survivors. And I am furious on their behalf.
I have spent my life advocating for women and girls… [statement continues as originally delivered, maintaining her arguments regarding anti-trafficking efforts, oversight concerns, and criticism of the committee’s focus.]
Instead, you have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.
If this Committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files.
If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done.
What is being held back? Who is being protected? And why the cover-up?
My challenge to you… is to be worthy of the trust the American people have given you.”
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