The closed-door deposition of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was paused Thursday after a photo of her at the hearing appeared on social media.
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson wrote in a post on X that the photo was provided to him by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
The panel was deposing the former first lady as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Former President Bill Clinton is set to testify Friday.
The photo shows Hillary Clinton in a blue outfit sitting at a long conference table with two other people. Several clear drinking glasses, a large glass water pitcher, papers, and folders are visible.
"I cannot believe this is happening. Hillary Clinton just STORMED out of the Epstein Deposition because I posted a photo of her testifying," Johnson wrote about 90 minutes later in a post on X.
"Now the Clinton PR team is crying about me to the press. This is insane. The deposition is being filmed and will be released in full," he continued.
"Hillary wanted it to be done LIVE on TV. Rep. Boebert gave me permission to post a photo she took before the hearing started with credit," Johnson continued.
"Hillary is trying to get out of answering questions about Epstein because of a picture. Does this sound desperate to you?"
The deposition was being filmed, and the committee has publicly stated it plans to release the recording, as it has done with other depositions in the investigation.
The disruption followed a defiant opening statement from Clinton, The New York Times reported.
She criticized House Republicans for requiring her to participate in their investigation into Epstein and accused them of using her as a prop in "partisan political theater."
Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill told reporters outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, where the deposition was held — the Clintons have a home in Chappaqua, New York — that "the hearing went off the record for a moment" following the release of the photograph, "which is against chamber rules that were read at the top of the meeting."
He said the hearing was paused while officials worked to determine where the photo came from and "why members of Congress are violating House rules."
"Benny did nothing wrong," Boebert wrote in a post on X. "Proceeding with deposition."
The Clintons were asked to testify by Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., last year regarding Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Hillary Clinton has denied knowing Epstein, although Epstein and the former president had a documented relationship.
The Clintons declined the request, and Comer then subpoenaed them to testify. They agreed to be deposed only after facing a potential House vote for contempt of Congress.
Comer told Axios on Wednesday that Republicans planned to question Hillary Clinton about whether Epstein was an asset for a foreign country, how he amassed his wealth and the money he raised for the Clinton Foundation.
Hillary Clinton told the panel in her opening statement that she had no knowledge of crimes committed by Epstein or his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
"I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein," she said in her opening statement, which she shared in a post on X.
Newsmax reached out to Comer for comment.
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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