Bill Clinton deposition: Former president testifying in Epstein probe: live updates

Former President Bill Clinton is testifying to the House Oversight Committee in a deposition as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Clinton's testimony on Friday marks the first time that a former president has been forced to testify before Congress. The closed-door meeting is occurring at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Westchester County, New York. 

RELATED: Hillary Clinton's Epstein deposition ends after hours of questioning

Democrats and Republicans are expected to question Clinton about his alleged ties to Epstein. The former president's deposition comes a day after his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, appeared before the panel for her own lengthy deposition in the Epstein probe.

Here are the latest updates from Friday's deposition.

Top Democrat on House Oversight says Bill Clinton should not invoke the Fifth Amendment

11:43 a.m. ET: According to the Associated Press, Rep. Robert Garcia said "I think it was telling that Secretary Clinton did not take the Fifth one time," Garcia told reporters, referring to the constitutional protection defendants and witnesses sometimes cite when declining to answer questions in legal proceedings.

Garcia continued: "I think it’s important the president (Bill Clinton) do the same. I think he will answer questions today."

Republicans, Democrats offer different accounts of Hillary Clinton testimony

11:30 a.m. ET: Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. described Hillary Clinton "screaming" during her deposition on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. 

"I hope that President Clinton is less unhinged than his wife was yesterday," Mace said Friday outside the building where the House Oversight panel is convening.

Democrats dismissed Mace’s description, which Rep. Robert Garcia said proves the need for Comer to release the "full, unedited" video. The Clintons had wanted to testify publicly but Comer insisted on the private sessions.

Garcia called the Republican questioning Thursday a "disgrace" focused on old "conspiracy theories." He praised Hillary Clinton for participating.

He reminded reporters Friday that Democrats still want the proceedings to be open "so that you can hear the answer and the questions directly."

Comer promises Bill Clinton updates, release of Hillary Clinton deposition video

10:30 a.m. ET: According to the Associated Press, Chairman James Comey says he’ll send Republican members of his House Oversight Committee out to update reporters as Clinton is being deposed.

Comey also promised to release video and transcripts of Hillary Clinton’s testimony. The Clintons wanted to testify in public, but the Republicans in control insisted on closed-door depositions. Democrats on the committee called for Comey to release the full video of the former secretary of state’s Thursday session.

FILE-Former President Bill Clinton speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 04, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for The New York Times)

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The Clintons agreed to testify after their offers of sworn statements were rebuffed by the Oversight panel and its chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., threatened criminal contempt of Congress charges against them.

Hillary Clinton deposition on Epstein

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On Thursday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told members of Congress that she had no knowledge of Epstein’s or Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes.

"I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein," Hillary Clinton said in an opening statement she shared on social media. The closed-door deposition concluded after over six hours of questioning Thursday.

FILE-Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the press after testifying in a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on February 26, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York. (Photo by Dav

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At the conclusion of the hearing, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said that Hillary Clinton had answered every question posed to her.

Clinton also told reporters as she exited that she answered the same question again and again from lawmakers about whether she knew Epstein at all.

FILE-Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton departs following a closed-door deposition at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Chappaqua, New York, US, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Photographer: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"I don’t know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein," Hillary said.

She also told reporters that her husband had ended his relationship with Epstein before Epstein’s sexual abuse came to light in 2008.

During her testimony, the former Secretary of State repeated demands that reporters be allowed into her deposition after Benny Johnson, a right-wing YouTuber, posted a photo of Clinton during the deposition online. 

Johnson said the photo was provided by Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert. When asked by reporters why she shared the image of Clinton, Boebert responded, "Why not?"