Published: 02/27/2026
Source: Maya Kaufman, Gelila Negesse, and Hailey Fuchs, POLITICO
During two days of depositions with Bill and Hillary Clinton, House Democrats and Republicans emerged with starkly contrasting narratives regarding their investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats say the depositions pave the way for slapping Trump with a subpoena. Republicans say they point to his exoneration.
While Republicans declared that President Donald Trump was "exonerated," Democrats referred to the proceedings as an “unserious clown show.” This divide has left the public with conflicting interpretations of a congressional probe that shows little sign of resolution.
The politically charged nature of the House investigation reflects the public's demand for accountability related to Epstein's long-running sex trafficking operations with co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. The Oversight and Government Reform Committee spent extensive hours questioning the Clintons—former Secretary of State on Thursday and former President on Friday—following subpoenas tied to the ongoing Epstein investigation.
Both parties exchanged criticism over their interpretations of the testimonies while selectively leaking details to support their positions. Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) stated that Bill Clinton indicated Trump "never said anything to make me think he was involved" with Epstein, leading Republicans to conclude no further deposition of Trump was necessary.
“From all the evidence I’ve seen, he’s been exonerated for a long time,” Comer asserted during a Friday news conference.
In contrast, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) insisted that Trump’s deposition set a precedent for him to testify under oath, claiming Comer’s comments misrepresented Bill Clinton’s testimony.
Democrats emphasized that Clinton’s account raised additional questions about Trump's relationship with Epstein, particularly regarding their reported falling out. Trump has claimed he expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years before Epstein's arrest due to inappropriate behavior, while the White House maintains he was banned for being “a creep.”
Neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton faces allegations of misconduct related to Epstein, nor does Trump. Bill Clinton has acknowledged being an acquaintance of Epstein and traveling on his plane but stated he ceased communication years before Epstein’s 2019 arrest.
According to an anonymous source privy to the closed-door testimony, Bill Clinton testified that Trump mentioned having “great times together” with Epstein. Additionally, Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost indicated Clinton stated the falling out was related to a land dispute.
“This shows he’s been caught in multiple lies about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” Frost said of Trump.
Bill Clinton's office did not respond to a request for comment. The White House reiterated an earlier statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt, confirming Trump’s claim of expelling Epstein from his club.
The Republican-led committee plans to release videos of the depositions soon, while Democrats have requested the full, unedited versions to present their account. Both parties are eager to affirm their respective narratives.
Facing heightened public pressure for tangible results, Republicans aim to leverage the Clintons' testimonies for political gains. Comer noted the panel would continue calling additional witnesses as part of the investigation, hinting that names might be announced ahead of forthcoming depositions involving Epstein’s estate co-executors.
As lawmakers departed the deposition site, it became evident the committee might soon subpoena Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, amidst calls for his resignation following revelations of his connections to Epstein. Lutnick has not faced accusations of wrongdoing related to Epstein's crimes.
“We have many questions about anyone who spent time with Epstein post-conviction,” Comer stated when questioned about the potential call for Lutnick to testify.
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