Hillary Clinton’s closed-door deposition in the congressional Jeffrey Epstein investigation was paused Thursday after GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert shared a photo of the former first lady during proceedings with a right-wing influencer.
MAGA influencer Benny Johnson shared the photo of a stern-looking Clinton on his X account, which he said was “provided by Rep. Lauren Boebert,” and appeared to be taken from the Republican’s seat.
“The first image of Hillary Clinton testifying under oath about Jeffery Epstein to the Republican Oversight Committee,” Johnson wrote on X, in a post featuring a photo of Clinton. “This is the first time Hillary has had to answer real questions about Epstein. Clinton does not look happy.”
After the post, Clinton adviser Nick Merrill told Politico that the deposition went off the record “while they figure out where the photo came from and why possibly members of Congress are violating House rules.”
While Clinton’s deposition is being recorded, it is closed-door, and videos and a transcript of the deposition will be released after they have been reviewed by attorneys, House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. James Comer said.
Clinton is being deposed at her home in Chappaqua, New York, while former President Bill Clinton is set to be questioned Friday.
The Independent has contacted Boebert’s office for comment.
In a post on X, the congresswoman defended Johnson’s decision to post the photo, though she did not confirm that she was the one who sent it to him.
“Benny did nothing wrong,” the Colorado Republican wrote. “Proceeding with deposition.”
Johnson claimed he was authorized to post the photo and accused Clinton’s team of trying to “weasel out of answering questions.”
Clinton has not been accused of any crimes in connection with Epstein and denies wrong doing.
In her opening statement to the committee, Clinton said she did not recall ever meeting Epstein and had “no idea” about the crimes of the sex offender and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
“I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes or offices,” Clinton’s statement said in the statement that she shared on her social media.
The Democrat accused lawmakers of not taking their inquiry into Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking operation seriously.
“If you are new to this issue, let me tell you: Jeffrey Epstein was a heinous individual, but he’s far from alone,” Clinton said. “This is not a one-off tabloid sensation or a political scandal. It’s a global scourge with an unimaginable human toll.”
Clinton also took aim at President Donald Trump in her opening statement and called for lawmakers to question him under oath.
Trump is not accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
“If this Committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files,” Clinton said.
Trump is mentioned in the Epstein files because he was once friends with Jeffrey Epstein. However, the two stopped being friends long before Epstein was investigated and convicted in Florida of prostitution.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.
