Republican Representative Nancy Mace has launched a fierce attack against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, labelling her as "unhinged" during a recent congressional deposition connected to the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The South Carolina congresswoman made these explosive claims on Friday, just ahead of scheduled questioning for former President Bill Clinton by the House Oversight Committee.
Explosive Allegations and Heated Exchanges
"I asked her very pointed questions and you'll see that in the transcript and the video that comes out and you'll see how she responded as well, screaming," Mace told reporters. "She was unhinged, and I hope that President Clinton is less unhinged today than his wife was yesterday."
Clinton's representatives immediately disputed this characterization of the approximately six-hour closed-door session. "She is full of s***," Hillary Clinton's spokesperson Nick Merrill told CNN directly. "Was she appalled that Congresswoman Mace wouldn't let her answer a question about her work as a senator after the murder of 3,000 Americans on 9/11? Absolutely."
Conspiracy Theories and Political Theatre
Clinton herself described the questioning as descending into unusual territory toward the end of the deposition. "It then got at the end, quite unusual, because I started being asked about UFOs and a series of questions about Pizzagate, one of the most vile, bogus conspiracy theories that was propagated on the internet," Clinton revealed to reporters on Thursday.
The former Secretary of State maintained her distance from Epstein throughout the questioning. "I don't know how many times I had to say 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 emphasized repeatedly during the session.
Political Fallout and Committee Dynamics
The deposition was temporarily paused when right-wing influencer Benny Johnson leaked a photograph of the closed-door proceedings, creating additional controversy around the investigation. Meanwhile, Mace took to social media platform X to expand on her accusations, claiming Clinton was "scared" about her line of questioning.
"Hillary Clinton shamefully used the terrorist attack of 9/11 as a scapegoat to cover for her and her family's close relationship with Howard Lutnick, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell," Mace wrote in one post. She referenced a 2015 email from Lutnick, now serving as commerce secretary in the Trump administration, which invited Epstein to a Hillary Clinton fundraiser. It remains unclear whether Epstein attended, and records show he did not donate to Clinton's campaign.
Democratic Criticism and Investigative Focus
Democrats on the committee have accused Republicans of turning the serious investigation into political theatre. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the oversight committee, expressed frustration about the questioning direction.
"I just think it's unfortunate that we began asking her questions about UFOs and aliens. I mean, let's be serious at this moment. We have survivors that need answers and the truth. That's where the focus should be," Garcia told CNN.
He further highlighted what he called Republican selectivity in attendance, noting that "not a single Republican" joined Democrats for the deposition of Les Wexner, the billionaire businessman who provided Epstein with most of his wealth. "It's just so interesting that Republicans were so obsessed with being there today," Garcia added pointedly.
Clinton Family Responses and Ongoing Proceedings
Former President Bill Clinton, during his own testimony on Friday, defended his wife vigorously against the committee's approach. "You made Hillary come in. She had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. Nothing. She has no memory of even meeting him," he stated in his opening remarks.
The former president maintained his own distance from Epstein and his crimes, asserting that he "saw nothing" and "did nothing wrong" regarding his former acquaintance. Video recordings of Hillary Clinton's deposition could be released imminently, potentially providing visual evidence of the exchanges described by both sides.
It is important to note that neither the Clintons, Howard Lutnick, nor Les Wexner have been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein's criminal activities. The investigation continues amid heightened political tensions and competing narratives about the appropriate focus of congressional oversight.
