Hillary Clinton’s long-awaited deposition regarding Jeffrey Epstein was abruptly paused Thursday after a photo from inside the closed-door session surfaced on social media, setting off a dispute over alleged rule violations and transparency.
The deposition, held in Chappaqua, New York, was temporarily halted after Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., shared a photo from inside the meeting with MAGA influencer Benny Johnson, who then posted it publicly. The image showed Clinton appearing somber as she testified under oath before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee.
Clinton adviser Nick Merrill confirmed to reporters that the session had gone off the record after the photo began circulating online.
“The hearing just went off the record for a moment because it seems, as some of you may have seen, there was a photograph shared on social media, which is against the rules read at the top of the meeting,” Merrill said. He added that the deposition was paused while officials determined how the image was obtained and whether members of Congress had violated the rules governing the session.
When a reporter indicated he had not seen the image, Merrill directed him to “look at Benny Johnson’s feed.”
Johnson’s post described the image as “BREAKING: The first image of Hillary Clinton testifying under oath about Jeffrey Epstein to the Republican Oversight Committee.” He added that it was “the first time Hillary has had to answer real questions about Epstein,” and noted that the photo was provided by Rep. Lauren Boebert.
Johnson later followed up, stating that the deposition was being filmed and that Clinton had wanted it conducted live on television. He said the full deposition would be released soon and emphasized that Boebert had given him permission to post the image with credit. Johnson also questioned whether the pause in proceedings was tied to the publication of the photo.
In response, Boebert publicly defended the move, writing, “Benny did nothing wrong. Proceeding with deposition.”
Despite the interruption, the hearing later resumed. According to MS NOW’s Ali Vitali, Clinton requested that journalists be allowed into the room. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., reportedly rejected that request, maintaining the closed-door format.
In her opening statement, Clinton sharply criticized House Republicans on the committee over their handling of matters related to Epstein. She also firmly denied any association with Epstein and said she had never visited his private island or any of his residences.
The deposition marks a significant moment in the committee’s investigation, as lawmakers question Clinton under oath regarding any potential knowledge or connections related to Epstein. Her testimony comes ahead of a separate deposition scheduled for her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who is slated to appear on Friday.
Thursday’s brief but dramatic pause underscores the high-profile and politically charged nature of the proceedings. With the full deposition expected to be released, attention now turns to what Clinton said under oath — and how the broader investigation will unfold in the days ahead.
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