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Hillary Clinton tells House ‘I do not recall ever encountering’ Jeffrey Epstein
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is accusing the GOP-led House Oversight Committee of using her to «distract» from President Donald Trump during her high-stakes testimony in Congress’ Jeffrey Epstein probe.
«A committee endeavoring to stop human trafficking would seek to understand what specific steps are needed to fix a system that allowed Epstein to get away with his crimes in 2008,» she is telling the panel, according to her opening remarks.
«But that’s not happening. Instead, you have compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.»
Clinton is telling lawmakers, «As I stated in my sworn declaration on January 13, I had no idea about their criminal activities.»
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is appearing before the House Oversight Committee. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
«I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that,» her remarks state.
«Like every decent person, I have been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes. It’s unfathomable that Mr. Epstein initially got a slap on the wrist in 2008, which allowed him to continue his predatory practices for another decade.»
The House Oversight Committee’s deposition is officially kicking off on Thursday morning after months of back-and-forth.
«No one’s accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing. They’re going to have due process,» Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told reporters shortly before it began. «But we have a lot of questions, and the purpose of the whole investigation is to try to understand many things about Epstein.»
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Hillary Clinton’s deposition comes a day before her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will testify before the panel as well.
«Today will be a long deposition, I would assume, and tomorrow will be an even longer deposition,» Comer said.
Both Democrats and Republicans on the committee, as well as the panel’s staff, traveled to the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, New York for the two-day affair.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., speaks to reporters after a closed-door deposition with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and confidante of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 9, 2026. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
It’s part of an agreement struck between the GOP-led panel and the former first couple’s lawyers in order for them to appear in person.
Lawmakers on either side will have the opportunity to question Hillary Clinton in addition to their staffs.
Fox News Digital was told that Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., will be the first lawmaker to question the former first lady and Obama administration official.
Mace was one of four House Republicans who successfully forced a vote late last year on getting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release files on Epstein, despite pressure from GOP leaders.
The South Carolina Republican, who is running for governor of the Palmetto State, told reporters on Thursday that she would also be questioning Hillary Clinton on Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, among other names that have been mentioned in relation to Epstein.
Comer told reporters she would also be questioned on her ties to Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, pointing out that Maxwell was present at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding in 2010, after the first allegations against Epstein surfaced.
He also suggested that Epstein and Maxwell’s ties to the nonprofit Clinton Foundation would also see scrutiny.
President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Jan. 29, 2026. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
«Again, we’re not accusing Hillary Clinton of wrongdoing. We know that Jeffrey Epstein said many times in emails that he was the first person to raise money for the Clinton initiative, the Clinton Foundation, that he solicited money at some of his properties for the Clinton Foundation,» Comer said.
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«Again, that’s not saying anything illegal, but there are a lot of questions pertaining to Secretary Clinton with respect to Epstein and his involvement in the Clinton initiative and her relationship with with Ghislaine Maxwell.»
But Clinton’s prepared remarks show her accusing Republicans of going on a «fishing expedition» to find information that is not there.
«If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press giggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement. It would ask him directly, under oath, about the tens of thousands of times who showed up in the Epstein files. If the majority was serious, it would not waste time on fishing expeditions. There is too much that needs to be done,» her remarks said.
Neither of the Clintons has been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein, nor has Trump. But both the current and former president’s names appear in the Epstein files numerous times, alongside other well-known figures like Bill Gates and Leslie Wexner.
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Illegal immigrants could lose public housing under Trump HUD plan to end Clinton-era loophole
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A proposed Department of Housing and Urban Development rule would crack down on illegal immigrants or unqualified people living in public housing, closing a loophole established amid major departmental reforms under President Bill Clinton in 1996.
Current HUD rules allow «mixed-status» households to use public housing under what is called the «do not contend» provision, in which a person living among a public housing family can declare they «do not contend» their HUD eligibility under their immigration status, and the family instead receives prorated housing assistance.
The HUD-ineligible family member or members may remain in public housing so long as the family accepts their diminished subsidies, according to reports.
The new HUD rule proposed this week under Secretary Scott Turner would eliminate the option for residents to say they «do not contend» and instead require every member to verify citizenship or prove eligible noncitizen status to continue receiving housing assistance.
President Donald Trump, left; HUD Secretary Scott Turner, right. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The proposed rule would not categorically prohibit noncitizens from public housing, but those remaining would have to prove they are eligible for taxpayer-funded assistance.
While illegal immigrants would be barred, green-card holders are currently fully eligible under federal housing law.
People admitted to the U.S. under official refugee or asylee status also remain eligible, as well as individuals whose DHS order of removal is being legally withheld due to threat of personal harm in their home country.
Cuban emigres who have fled the Communist dictatorship 90 miles off Key West have also historically been considered eligible, as have certain foreign domestic violence or trafficking victims.
Turner’s proposal, however, would guarantee that all people living in HUD-funded housing are eligible under statute.
The longstanding HUD Act of 1980, which the Clinton-era reforms adjusted, already prohibits HUD from providing financial assistance to ineligible noncitizens, and Turner’s reforms would make the prorated assistance option temporary instead of indefinite, pending eligibility verification.
«Under President Trump’s leadership, the days of illegal aliens, ineligibles, and fraudsters gaming the system and riding the coattails of American taxpayers are over,» said Turner, a former Washington Redskins cornerback.
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on Dec. 11 that it was opening an investigation into the city of Boston, alleging the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion housing practices violate federal anti-discrimination laws. (Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
«HUD’s proposed rule will guarantee that all residents in HUD-funded housing are eligible tenants. We have zero tolerance for pushing aside hardworking U.S. citizens while enabling others to exploit decades-old loopholes.»
Turner previously wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that previous administrations «turned a blind eye» to enforcing these types of HUD laws and policies.
«Liberal officials at both the federal and state level purposefully blurred and weakened the law by allowing some applicants for HUD assistance to simply sign a declaration of citizenship without requiring any documentation or proof,» he said in one example.
Critics of the change, however, said HUD’s efforts are going to lead to families being booted from public housing.
«Our country can ensure that every one of us, no matter where we come from or what language we speak, has a safe home,» National Housing Law Project executive director Shamus Roller told the Associated Press.
«Trump is trying to evict immigrant families, citizen and non-citizen, from HUD housing.»
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Roller’s colleague Sonya Acosta told the wire service that the new policy would wrongly force an «agonizing choice between losing the assistance that helps [families] pay rent every month or separating their family.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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World Economic Forum president and CEO steps down after facing scrutiny over Epstein links
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Børge Brende, who has faced scrutiny due to the revelation of links between him and the late Jeffrey Epstein, is stepping down from his role as World Economic Forum president and CEO.
«I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions,» Brende said in a statement.
Disclosures by the U.S. Justice Department indicated that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein and engaged him in communications through email and texts, according to Reuters.
President Donald Trump is greeted by Børge Brende before taking part in a discussion onstage at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 21, 2026, in Davos, Switzerland. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
«In light of these interactions, the Governing Board requested the Audit and Risk Committee to look into the matter, which subsequently decided to initiate an independent review,» the WEF noted in a statement, the outlet reported earlier this month. «This decision underscores the Forum’s commitment to transparency and maintaining its integrity.»
In the statement about Brende’s departure, the globalist body noted, «The independent review conducted by outside counsel has concluded. The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.»
WEF’s co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said in a statement on behalf of the board of trustees that they wanted «to express our sincere appreciation for Børge Brende’s significant contributions to the World Economic Forum.»
«His dedication and leadership have been instrumental during a pivotal period of reforms for the organization, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos. We respect his decision to step down,» they said.
«We are pleased to announce that Alois Zwinggi will serve as Interim President and CEO and looking forward to his continued collaboration and partnership over time,» Hoffmann and Fink added. «The Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition including the plan to drive a proper process to identify a permanent successor.»
FORMER NORWEGIAN PM THORBJØRN JAGLAND HOSPITALIZED AMID EPSTEIN PROBE
Close-up image of a tablet screen displaying a portrait of Jeffrey Epstein beside the official U.S. Department of Justice website page titled Epstein Library in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2026. (Véronique Tournier/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
Brende asserted in a statement that he met Epstein while attending a dinner that former Norwegian Deputy Prime Minister Terje Rod-Larsen invited him to, according to Reuters.
Brende noted that he later went to two similar dinners that included Epstein and that those dinners plus «a few emails and SMS messages» comprised the full scope of his engagements with Epstein, according to the outlet.
SON OF NORWAY’S CROWN PRINCESS TO FACE RAPE CHARGES AS NEW EPSTEIN FILES MENTION HER HUNDREDS OF TIMES
World Economic Forum President Borge Brende delivers a speech at the annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, 2026. (Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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«I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities,» Brende noted, according to the outlet.
«Had I known about his background, I would have declined the initial invitation to join Rod-Larsen and any subsequent dinner invitations or other communications,» he said.
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