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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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Representative Lauren Boebert took to social media Thursday afternoon to defend a photo she took of the closed-door deposition of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and sent to podcaster Benny Johnson.
Boebert, a Colorado Republican, told reporters outside the House Oversight Committee hearing that she was not reprimanded for the photos she took, before posting on X that Johnson had done nothing wrong by sharing the image.
"No U.S. Ambassadors were harmed in the taking of today’s photo," she said in another post, appearing to seek to poke fun at the outrage over the image, which led to a pause in proceedings.
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Why It Matters
The closed-door depositions in Chappaqua, New York, the hometown of Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, come after months of tense back-and-forth between the high-powered Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. It will be the first time that a former president has been forced to testify before Congress.
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What To Know
Johnson said Boebert sent a photo from the deposition, which he posted on X, stating, "BREAKING: 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. Photo provided by Rep. Lauren Boebert."
In another post, Johnson said the photo was authorized.
"Rep. Boebert gave me permission to post a photo she took before the hearing started with credit," Johnson said in a later post.
Why Was Hillary Clinton Testifying Before the House Oversight Committee?
Hillary Clinton was testifying in a House investigation into Epstein, who visited Bill Clinton at the White House multiple times in the 1990s, according to visitor logs. After he left office, the former president flew multiple times on Epstein's private jet.
“Traveling on Epstein’s plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward,” Bill Clinton wrote in his 2024 memoir. “I wish I had never met him.”
Hillary Clinton told lawmakers that she does not recall ever encountering Jeffrey Epstein in a closed-door deposition to the House Oversight Committee on Thursday.
“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," Clinton said in an opening statement she shared on X. "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.”
When Will Bill Clinton Testify?
Bill Clinton is expected to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee on Friday.
The former president was mentioned in the Epstein investigative files. Several photos of the former president were released by the Department of Justice, including a number of him with women whose faces were redacted. He has not been accused of wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.
What People Are Saying
Benny Johnson, on X: "This is insane. The deposition is being filmed. Hillary wanted it to be done LIVE on TV. The entire deposition will be released soon. Rep. Boebert gave me permission to post photo with credit. Hillary is trying to get out of answering questions about Epstein because of a pic!?!"
Hillary Clinton, in her opening statement released ahead of the hearing: “If you are new to this issue, let me tell you: Jeffrey Epstein was a heinous individual, but he’s far from alone. This is not a one‑off tabloid fascination or a political scandal. It’s a global scourge with an unimaginable human toll.”
What Happens Next
The deposition is being recorded on video, but Chairman James Comer has said any footage will be released only after Clinton’s attorneys have an opportunity to review it.
Update 2/26/26, 5:48 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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