Leaked photo causes chaos at Hillary Clinton Epstein deposition as session derailed mid-way through
The former first lady Hillary Clinton appeared before a congressional committee on Thursday (February 26) over an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, but the deposition was paused over a leaked photo.
Clinton, the former US secretary of state, was speaking for hours at the behind-closed-doors session, while her husband, Bill Clinton, is set to appear on Friday (February 27).
The former presidential candidate said she had 'no idea' about the crimes of Epstein, adding in her opening statement: "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."
While Clinton was answering questions from the committee, MAGA influencer Benny Johnson took to X to post an image of the 78-year-old during proceedings, which he said was provided to him by GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert.
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Captioning the photo of a rather concentrated-looking Clinton, Johnson penned: "The first image of Hillary Clinton testifying under oath about Jeffery Epstein to the Republican Oversight Committee.
"This is the first time Hillary has had to answer real questions about Epstein. Clinton does not look happy."
Boebert went on to defend the MAGA supporter on X.
"Benny did nothing wrong," she said. "Proceeding with deposition."
After it had become apparent the photo had been leaked online, proceedings were paused, with Nick Merrill, Clinton's adviser, saying the committee hearing went off record 'while they figure out where the photo came from and why possibly members of Congress are violating House rules', as per the Independent.
Asked by reporters why she shared the picture, Boebert responded: "Why not?"
She claimed she hadn't experienced any repercussions for sending the photo, ABC News reports, adding: "There were no rules violated with the photo."
But Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight committee, said: "Everybody was very taken aback by the committee rules being essentially not enforced and certainly just broken immediately. That is not acceptable."
After the deposition, Hillary slammed the committee for wasting everyone's time, telling ABC News: "I think they could have spent the day more productively."
She claims the committee often went off topic, and asked her about the Pizzagate conspiracy - the false belief that a paedophile ring containing top Democrat politicians is operating out of a Washington pizzeria - and UFOs.
The former first lady added: "I don't know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein. I never went to his island. I never went to his homes, I never went to his offices. So it's on the record numerous times."
In her opening statement, Clinton called for President Donald Trump to appear under oath in relation to Epstein.
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."
The Clintons were both legally summoned to speak in front of the committee, and have previously said they would have preferred for the hearing to have been public.
Hillary said at the time: "We have nothing to hide. We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant."
Topics: Jeffrey Epstein, US News
Callum Jones