Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee was briefly suspended Thursday after a photograph taken during her testimony was leaked to a conservative media figure, triggering a dispute between lawmakers over committee procedure.
The image, captured while Clinton was seated mid-testimony in the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, was provided to podcast host Benny Johnson by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.). After the photo circulated publicly, Clinton’s attorneys halted the proceedings and she exited the room.
According to MSNOW, Clinton later returned and engaged in a tense exchange with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) before questioning resumed. The deposition continued behind closed doors.
Clinton addressed reporters during an impromptu press conference, issuing a categorical denial of any association with Epstein.
“I did not know Jeffrey Epstein! I never went to his island. I never went to his home. I never went to his offices,” she said.
Her legal team accused Boebert of violating House rules by taking and releasing the photograph during a closed-door session. Clinton also asserted that committee guidelines had been breached.
🚨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. pic.twitter.com/mPtUyA4u5i
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 26, 2026
Democrats on the committee echoed those concerns during a break in the deposition.
“What is not acceptable is Oversight Republicans breaking their own committee rules that they established with the Secretary and her team,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said at a press conference.
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) criticized the tone and conduct of the proceedings, stating, “We are sitting through an incredibly unserious clown show of a deposition where members of Congress and the Republican Party are more concerned about getting their photo op of Secretary Clinton than actually getting to the truth and holding anyone accountable.”
The deposition forms part of the committee’s broader inquiry into matters connected to Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019. Congressional interest in Epstein’s network and potential ties to prominent individuals has persisted in the years since his death, with lawmakers seeking additional disclosures and documentation.
Details of Clinton’s testimony beyond her public denial were not released Thursday, and no transcript was made available. The committee has not publicly outlined the specific rules governing photography during closed-door depositions, nor indicated whether it will pursue formal action related to the leak.
Boebert responded to criticism from Democrats and Clinton’s attorneys on social media, referencing the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.
“No U.S. ambassadors were harmed in the taking of today’s photo,” she wrote.
The comment alluded to the death of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who was killed during the Sept. 11, 2012 attack in Benghazi. Three other Americans also died in the assault. The incident prompted multiple congressional investigations during Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State and remained a central political issue throughout her subsequent presidential campaign.
Thursday’s developments underscored the heightened partisan tensions surrounding the Oversight Committee’s work. Under Republican leadership, the panel has pursued a series of investigations involving high-profile political figures and federal agencies. Clinton’s deposition marked one of the most closely watched sessions tied to its ongoing review of Epstein-related matters.
Clinton’s decision to speak publicly following the interruption signaled the seriousness with which her team viewed the photograph’s release. While Democrats characterized the incident as a procedural violation, Republicans did not immediately issue a formal committee statement detailing their position on the alleged breach.
Chairman Comer has previously defended the committee’s investigative authority in high-profile inquiries, emphasizing its oversight responsibilities. His exchange with Clinton after she returned to the deposition room was described as a sparring moment, though no specific remarks from that exchange were disclosed publicly.
The leak also drew attention to the role of outside media figures in covering congressional investigations. The photograph’s distribution to Johnson, a conservative podcast host, ensured rapid circulation on social media platforms, amplifying the episode beyond the confines of the closed-door session.
As of Thursday evening, it remained unclear whether additional images were taken or released, or whether the committee would modify its procedures in response to the incident. Lawmakers did not announce any changes to future deposition protocols.
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