Month: February 2026

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told members of the House Oversight Committee on Thursday that she has no firsthand or new information about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The deposition of Mrs. Clinton follow months of disputes between the Clintons and the committee, including threats of contempt proceedings before an agreement was reached for in-person testimony.  Testifying behind closed doors in Chappaqua, New York on Thursday, Clinton repeated the statement she submitted under oath in January: “As I stated in my sworn declaration on January 13, I had no idea about their criminal activities,” she said. “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.”

Clinton accused the Republican-led panel of staging a partisan distraction, rather than pursuing meaningful reforms. She noted that a serious investigation into human trafficking would focus on systemic failures that allowed Epstein to avoid severe punishment in 2008. Clinton went on to argue that lawmakers “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.“

Committee Chairman James Comer said before the deposition that “no one’s accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing,” but that investigators still have questions about how Epstein amassed his wealth, built relationships with powerful individuals and operated for years without greater scrutiny. Comer said transcripts and video of the interview would be released after review. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify as well.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has not been charged. His name, like those of other prominent figures, appears in Justice Department files released under a 2025 transparency law. Democrats on the committee signaled they would use the precedent to seek testimony from Trump. Rep. Robert Garcia said lawmakers should question anyone whose name appears extensively in the files, regardless of party.

Previously released photographs showed Bill Clinton with Epstein and Maxwell, though the location and context remain unclear. A spokesperson for the former president has said he flew on Epstein’s plane four times in 2002 and 2003 for trips connected to his foundation. In a sworn declaration, Bill Clinton said, “I have no recollection of when I first met Ms. Maxwell, though I believe she was working for Mr. Epstein at the time,” and added that he does not remember when he last saw her, describing it as many years ago.

Hillary Clinton has said she met Maxwell only “on a few occasions” through foundation-related events and had no “personal knowledge” of criminal conduct. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence following her 2021 sex trafficking conviction, has said she never saw either Bill Clinton or Trump engage in inappropriate behavior.

Meanwhile, some Republicans indicated they planned to press Clinton about Maxwell’s attendance at Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding and about any connections between Epstein and the Clinton Foundation. Comer noted that while there are questions about those associations, none amount to allegations of criminal conduct.

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A student at Columbia University who was taken into custody by federal agents Thursday morning has been released following intervention from President Trump, according to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The student, Elaina (Ellie) Aghayeva, an Azerbaijani national studying neuroscience and political science, was detained inside her campus residence on West 121st Street. A Department of Homeland Security official identified Aghayeva as an Azerbaijani citizen and stated that her student visa had been terminated in 2016 during the Obama administration for failing to attend classes. However, a statement shared by her friends through the American Association of University Professors described her as a current international student in good standing.

Aghayeva’s attorney filed a habeas corpus petition in the Southern District of New York, asserting that she entered the U.S. around 2016 on a visa and had not been given a reason for her detention. The filing also noted that her building manager and roommate allowed officers into the apartment and that she had no pending immigration appeals or applications.

After meeting with Trump at the White House, Mamdani said he raised concerns about Aghayeva’s detention. Later, the Mayor announced on social media that the president had informed him she would be freed promptly. “In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently,” Mamdani wrote.

Aghayeva also confirmed her release shortly before 4 p.m., posting on Instagram that she was on her way back to campus. “I am so grateful for everyone of you. I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and ok,” she wrote, adding, “I am in complete shock over what happened…”

Columbia University also posted on social media: “The University is relieved and thrilled that our student, Ellie, has been released from detainment. We will share additional details this evening.”

As reported earlier in the day, Aghayeva was taken into custody by Department of Homeland Security agents Thursday morning, after officers entered a campus residence hall under disputed circumstances, according to university officials. In a message to the campus community, Acting President Claire Shipman said federal agents arrived at a university-owned dormitory around 6:30 a.m. and removed a student from the building. She wrote, “Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing person,’” adding that administrators are seeking additional details, contacting the student’s family, and arranging legal assistance.

Shipman used the incident to remind students and staff of campus protocols, emphasizing that law enforcement must present a judicial warrant or subpoena to enter nonpublic university spaces such as dormitories or classrooms. “An administrative warrant is not sufficient. Do not allow them to enter or accept service of a warrant or subpoena,” she added, noting that the university’s legal counsel would coordinate any response.

Columbia has repeatedly found itself at the center of political controversy, with federal agents active on campus before. Last year, Homeland Security executed search warrants at two university residences, though no arrests were made at the time. The searches occurred shortly after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student and Palestinian activist. Khalil spent three months in immigration detention before being released in June amid protests and a legal fight. His attorneys argued the detention was unconstitutional retaliation for his political views. However, an appeals court later ruled he must continue through immigration proceedings before challenging the legality of his detention.

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