MXM Exclusive
Hillary
Clinton’s long-awaited deposition before the House Oversight Committee
hit an unexpected snag Thursday after a photograph from inside the room
leaked onto social media — abruptly pausing proceedings and igniting a
fresh partisan clash in the middle of the Jeffrey Epstein probe.
The image, posted
to X by conservative commentator Benny Johnson, showed a tight-lipped
Clinton seated at the witness table. “The first image of Hillary Clinton
testifying under oath about Jeffrey Epstein to the Republican Oversight
Committee,” Johnson wrote, adding that “Clinton does not look happy.”
He said the photo was provided by Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert and
appeared to be taken from her seat in the room.
Within minutes of the post circulating, Clinton adviser
Nick Merrill said the deposition went off the record while officials
worked to determine how the image was captured and whether House rules
had been broken. Though the testimony is being recorded, it is not
public. Chairman James Comer has said video and transcripts will be
released only after review by counsel.
Boebert moved quickly to defend the post, writing
on X, “Benny did nothing wrong. Proceeding with deposition.” While she
stopped short of explicitly confirming she sent the image, she did not
deny Johnson’s claim that he had permission to publish it “with credit.”
Johnson, for his part, accused Clinton’s team of trying to “weasel out”
of tough questioning.
Democrats blasted the episode. Rep. Robert Garcia, the
committee’s top Democrat, called the sharing of the photo
“unacceptable,” arguing Republicans were violating the very procedures
agreed upon with Clinton’s attorneys. He said it was “gracious” for
Clinton and her legal team to continue the deposition after the
disruption.
Clinton, who has not been charged with any crime related to
Epstein and has consistently denied wrongdoing, used her opening
statement to draw a bright line between herself and the disgraced
financier. “I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew
on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices,” she said in
remarks later posted publicly. She added that she had “no idea” about
the crimes committed by Epstein or his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace reportedly pressed Clinton about
her husband’s past ties to Epstein, including pointed questions about
reports involving young women around former President Bill Clinton.
According to CNN, a source in the room said Clinton declined to
speculate on matters she did not personally witness and emphasized she
was “not there to talk about feelings.”
In prepared remarks, Clinton sought to elevate the
discussion beyond political sparring, calling Epstein “a heinous
individual” but “far from alone,” and describing sex trafficking as “a
global scourge with an unimaginable human toll.” At the same time, she
pivoted to challenge President Trump, urging the committee to question
him under oath if it is serious about examining all names connected to
the Epstein files. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in
connection with Epstein. His name appears in certain records due to a
past social relationship, but the two severed ties years before
Epstein’s later prosecution in Florida.
Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify Friday as the
Oversight Committee continues its investigation. With tempers already
flaring over procedure, Thursday’s interruption made clear that this
inquiry will be fought not just on the facts, but on optics — and every
moment inside that room is likely to carry political weight far beyond
it.