By Gloria Ogbonna
Tensions flared during a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee as former first lady and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton engaged in a sharp exchange with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) over questions related to deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The contentious moment unfolded as lawmakers questioned Clinton in connection with the committee’s broader investigation into individuals and institutions linked to Epstein.
During the deposition, Mace pressed Clinton about her relationship with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and whether she had any knowledge of communications involving him and Epstein.
Mace asked Clinton directly how she knew Lutnick. In response, Clinton recounted her interactions with him dating back to her time in the U.S. Senate. She referenced the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, noting that Lutnick’s firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, suffered devastating losses that day.
“I know Howard Lutnick because when I was senator, on 9/11, the firm he headed, Cantor Fitzgerald, suffered the greatest loss of life,” Clinton said, recalling that hundreds of employees were killed in the attacks.
She added that Lutnick narrowly avoided being among the victims because he had been delayed while dropping his child off at kindergarten that morning.
As Clinton elaborated, Mace attempted to interject, prompting Clinton to remind her that she had “asked the question.” Clinton’s tone reportedly grew more forceful as she continued her explanation, emphasizing her past engagement with Lutnick in the aftermath of the tragedy.
According to accounts of the exchange, the confrontation escalated when Mace referenced an email she claimed to possess. Mace said the email, allegedly sent by Lutnick to Epstein “and his people,” invited them to attend a fundraising event for Clinton at Cantor Fitzgerald’s offices. Mace characterized the event as an “intimate” gathering intended to raise money for Clinton.
“How do you know Howard Lutnick?” Mace repeated during the exchange, before raising the issue of the email. Clinton, in turn, denied ever personally soliciting funds from Epstein.
“If you have an email with me asking Jeffrey Epstein for money…” Clinton began, challenging the assertion. She maintained that she had not attempted to secure donations from Epstein and pushed back on any suggestion that she had directly engaged him for fundraising purposes.
Mace countered that the email in question was from Lutnick, allegedly sent to Epstein and associates, inviting them to an event for Clinton. She argued that the communication raised questions about the extent of connections between Epstein and prominent political figures.
The exchange became increasingly heated, with both women speaking over one another at points. Mace could be heard stating, “I’m a survivor, trying to look out for other survivors,” framing her line of questioning as part of a broader effort to advocate for victims of abuse. She later added, “I am looking out for survivors. I’m doing the job that you would not do and refused to do as Secretary of State.”
Clinton continued to deny any effort to obtain financial support from Epstein and disputed the implications of Mace’s claims. The back-and-forth highlighted the political and emotional intensity surrounding ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s network and the powerful figures who had past associations with him.
The deposition comes amid renewed attention on Epstein-related documents released by the Department of Justice. According to reports cited by NBC News, the released files included emails between Epstein and Lutnick.
Among the correspondence referenced was reported coordination involving a trip to Epstein’s private island, a location that has drawn significant public and legal scrutiny over the years.
Lutnick has denied any wrongdoing, and no formal charges have been reported in connection with the email referenced during the deposition.
Separately, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) has called for both Lutnick and President Donald Trump to testify before the committee regarding what he described as their relationships with Epstein. Khanna’s request underscores the bipartisan pressure to clarify the nature of high-profile connections to Epstein as lawmakers continue their investigation.
The dramatic exchange between Clinton and Mace reflects the broader political stakes surrounding the inquiry, as questions about past associations with Epstein continue to reverberate across Washington.
Source Breitbart