What we covered here
• Clinton deposition: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has concluded a day of defiant testimony for the House’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation. She told reporters the hearing should have been held publicly and that she’s confident her husband — former President Bill Clinton, who will appear tomorrow — had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
• Iran tension: Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, briefed President Donald Trump on potential military options in Iran, according to a person familiar. Separately, Vice President JD Vance said there’s “no chance” the US will get involved in a protracted conflict in the Middle East.
• Ukraine talks: Another round of talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US will likely be held next month in the UAE, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. US officials met separately with representatives from both countries today in Geneva.
Our live coverage of the Trump administration has ended for the day. Get the latest here.
Democratic lawmaker previews questions ahead of Bill Clinton deposition on Friday
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said he plans to ask former President Bill Clinton about his connection with Jeffrey Epstein and foreign intelligence issues during tomorrow’s deposition in New York.
The California Democrat called for a nonpartisan investigation and said he wants to hear from other prominent figures who may have information relating to the late convicted sex offender, including President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and billionaire Leon Black.
“If we’re going to have a serious investigation, then Republicans shouldn’t pick and choose who should be in front of the committee. We should be deposing and sending subpoenas to all of them. And that’s just not happening right now,” Garcia said.
Omani FM plans to meet Vance on Friday in Washington to discuss Iran nuclear deal efforts
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi plans to meet with Vice President JD Vance in Washington on Friday to discuss efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, according to two sources familiar with the plans.
The meeting plan comes after a third round of diplomatic talks between Iran and the US on Thursday failed to produce a major breakthrough, and while President Donald Trump continues to weigh taking military action against Iran.
Even while those diplomatic discussions took place Trump was considering those military options: Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, briefed the president on potential military options in Iran on Thursday, according to a person familiar.
Vance also claimed on Thursday that there is “no chance” that the US would get involved in a protracted conflict in the Middle East. Still, he did not count out possible military action against Iran.
The US and Iran agreed to technical discussions next week, the Omani foreign minister said after facilitating the talks. Who would attend those talks from the US side remains unclear.
MSNOW first reported on the plans for the Omani foreign minister to visit Washington on Friday.
Trump briefed on potential military options in Iran, source says
Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, briefed President Donald Trump today on potential military options in Iran, according to a person familiar.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine also attended the briefing.
ABC first reported on Cooper briefing the president.
Vance says "no chance" US becomes involved in yearslong conflict in Middle East
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday addressed concerns of Americans wary of the United States entering a protracted conflict in the Middle East, as President Donald Trump continues to weigh taking military action against Iran.
“The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — there is no chance that will happen,” Vance told The Washington Post in an interview.
Trump has tilted toward diplomacy with Iran while leaving the decision on whether to strike on the table. The US held talks with Iran in Geneva on Thursday with some signs of progress but without a major breakthrough, CNN reported.
“I think we all prefer the diplomatic option,” Vance said. “But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say.”
Vance, who served in the Marines and as a combat correspondent in Iraq, said he didn’t know how Trump would proceed, reiterating the administration’s stance on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Asked if he could have foreseen being part of an administration that is entertaining regime change in Iran, Vance said, “Life has all kinds of crazy twists and turns,” and defended Trump as an “America-first” president.
“He pursues policies that work for the American people,” Vance said. “I do think we have to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. I also think that we have to avoid overlearning the lessons of the past. Just because one president screwed up a military conflict doesn’t mean we can never engage in military conflict again. We’ve got to be careful about it, but I think the president is being careful.”
Hillary Clinton responds to question about her husband's ties to Epstein
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked today whether she was confident her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.
During a press conference, CNN’s MJ Lee asked Hillary Clinton whether she was confident her husband had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.
Democratic lawmaker: There will be “more to cover” with Bill Clinton on Friday
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee appeared to be in agreement Thursday as they left Hillary Clinton’s deposition about Jeffrey Epstein that the hours of questioning had been a waste of time: They gained no helpful information about the convicted sex offender’s crimes from the former secretary of state, the lawmakers said.
But Friday’s deposition of Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, could be a different story, Democrats acknowledged.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam told CNN as he was leaving Thursday’s interview in Chappaqua that Bill Clinton’s presence throughout the Epstein files released by the Justice Department means different stakes for the ex-president.
“Did he visit the island, did he not visit the island? I think there’s more to talk about tomorrow,” Subramanyam said. “Will it further our investigation significantly? I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not.”
Democrat on House panel says Clinton deposition was a "political clown show"
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia, a Democratic member of the House Oversight Committee, spoke on CNN’s Jake Tapper after today’s deposition by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Here's what came out of today's US-Iran talks
The United States and Iran concluded their third round of talks in Geneva today without a major breakthrough like a finalized deal.
Here’s what CNN can report after speaking to multiple sources:
Format of the meeting: The talks were divided into a morning session and an afternoon session. During a break, both sides made some non-major adjustments to their initial positions, which signals that the negotiations were serious, a person familiar with the talks said.
The topic of conversation: The US insisted on limiting Iran’s uranium enrichment and maintaining long-term verification of its nuclear program. While Iran affirmed it will never have nuclear weapons, it insisted that its uranium enrichment continue inside the country under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversight. Tehran also presented detailed proposals to address US concerns about its nuclear activities. An Iranian source said the key to an agreement lies in lifting all US sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions.
Where things stand: Washington and Tehran have identified the main elements of a potential agreement and will move discussions to the technical level, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. Americans and Iranian technical teams will meet in Vienna at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency next week. Araghchi also emphasized that sanctions relief for Iran was a central focus of the discussions.
About next week’s meeting: It is unclear who would attend next week’s discussions on the US side. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, have not involved technical experts in recent rounds of negotiations.
US military buildup continues: Recent satellite imagery shows 11 newly arrived US F-22 stealth fighter aircraft deployed at an Israeli base. These jets are designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, and the US Air Force says the F-22 outperforms any known or projected fighter aircraft in the world. The US prohibits selling F-22s because they are equipped with classified technology. Each unit costs roughly $143 million. So that’s over $1.5 billion worth of military assets at the Israeli base.
CNN’s Paula Hancocks, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Fred Pleitgen, Kevin Liptak and Kylie Atwood contributed to the post.
A defiant Hilary Clinton testified today in the House Epstein probe. Here's what happened
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defiantly faced lawmakers today who sought to question her about her family’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, insisting that she had no information about the late convicted sex offender’s criminal activities.
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said Clinton cooperated with investigators during the closed-door questioning and didn’t invoke her Fifth Amendment Amendment rights.
Get caught up on what happened today:
- Line of questioning: Clinton reiterated that she has no information regarding the criminal activities of Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. The former first lady and secretary of state also called on Congress to question President Donald Trump.
- Questions about her husband: When asked a number of questions related to former President Bill Clinton — including whether she had any feelings about young women massaging him — Clinton said she would not speculate about things she was not present for, and that she’s not there to talk about feelings, according to a source watching the deposition. A committee lawyer also asked Clinton whether she has spoken with the co-executors of Epstein’s estate, according to two sources. Clinton responded no. Oversight Chairman James Comer said he estimated “the number of times Clinton said, ‘I don’t know you’ll have to ask my husband’” at more than a dozen. The former president is scheduled to testify tomorrow.
- Clinton’s media appearance: Clinton took questions from the media after the deposition and maintained that she did not know Epstein and that the committee should have questioned her in public. Clinton said she is confident her husband had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and that Maxwell attended her daughter’s wedding “as the plus one” of a guest.
- Pictures and videos: The deposition at a certain point was paused because a photo of the closed-door interview was posted on X – in violation of House rules, Clinton’s spokesperson told reporters. The deposition resumed some time later and afterward, Garcia asked that reporters be allowed in the room. Eventually, video of Clinton’s deposition will be released as soon as all parties involved have approved it, Comer said today.
Comer says he'll try to release video of Hillary Clinton's deposition within 24 hours
Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said he would try to release video of Hillary Clinton’s deposition within the next 24 hours.
The former secretary of state, who was deposed by the committee for more than six hours Thursday, had blasted Republicans for conducting the interview in private.
She told reporters after the interview that she had urged the committee to release the video “as quickly as possible” for the public to see.
Asked by a reporter if she believes it was a fair hearing and if she still wants to testify publicly, Clinton said: “Well, I’m not going to do it again.”
“They had a chance to do it in public and I wish they had done it in public and I think they’re making the wrong decision,” she said.
Hillary Clinton says she's confident her husband had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she has confidence her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.
Asked by CNN whether she was “100% confident” that the former president doesn’t know anything related to the late convicted sex offender’s criminal activity, Clinton said: “I am.”
The former president is set to testify under oath on Friday in the couple’s hometown of Chappaqua, New York, where the former first lady was deposed for more than six hours today.
Bill Clinton has never been accused by law enforcement of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, and a spokesperson has repeatedly said he cut ties before Epstein’s arrest on federal charges in 2019 and was unaware of any crimes.
This post has been updated with additional details.
Hillary Clinton takes questions after her deposition today
The former secretary of state spoke to the media after her deposition taken in Chappaqua, New York, today.
Hillary Clinton says Ghislaine Maxwell "came as a plus one" to Chelsea Clinton's wedding
Asked why Ghislaine Maxwell was invited to her daughter Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, Hillary Clinton responded, “She came as the plus one, the guest, of someone who was invited.”
CNN has previously reported Maxwell vacationed with Chelsea Clinton in 2009 and attended her wedding in 2010.
A Clinton family spokesperson told Vanity Fair in 2019 that Chelsea was “friendly” with Maxwell because of a mutual friend. “When that relationship ended, Chelsea’s relationship with her ended as well,” the spokesperson said. “It wasn’t until 2015 that Chelsea became aware of the horrific allegations against Ghislaine Maxwell and she hopes that all the victims find justice.”
Clinton: The committee should have held public hearings in Epstein probe
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters she did not know Jeffrey Epstein and that she repeatedly told the House Oversight Committee that during her more than six-hour deposition today.
“I don’t know Jeffrey Epstein. I knew Ghislaine [Maxwell] as an acquaintance,” she said.
Ultimately, Clinton said, the committee should have questioned her in public.
“We think it would’ve been better for the committee” to have public hearings, she told reporters.
Hillary Clinton is addressing reporters after Epstein deposition
Hillary Clinton is addressing reporters after sitting for more than six hours in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein probe.
The former first lady and secretary of state was deposed in her hometown of Chappaqua, New York, and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, is set to testify under oath on Friday.
Mace: Clinton "took every question from every single member"
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina told reporters that Hillary Clinton answered all of the questions that were posed to her during her deposition in the congressional Jeffrey Epstein probe.
“She took every question from every single member,” Mace said.
The congresswoman said “this is nowhere near from over” and that there are more people she wants to talk to after today’s deposition.
Former President Bill Clinton is set to testify on Friday in Chappaqua, New York.
Clinton calls on Republicans to focus on Trump in Epstein probe
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today that Republicans targeted her for political reasons and should instead focus on President Donald Trump.
CNN’s Annie Grayer explains more here:
Hillary Clinton is testifying behind closed doors in a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clinton said in her opening statement that she has no information regarding the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
Hillary Clinton's deposition has ended after more than 6 hours
Hillary Clinton’s deposition in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein probe has ended after more than six hours.
Oversight Chairman James Comer told reporters it had been a “productive deposition” and said he “learned a lot” but that he was not satisfied with all of Clinton’s answers.
Comer said he estimated “the number of times she said, ‘I don’t know; you’ll have to ask my husband’” at more than a dozen.
Iran and US reach "general understanding" in Geneva talks, Iranian foreign minister says
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington and Tehran have identified the main elements of a potential agreement and will move discussions to the technical level.
Araghchi made the remarks after the United States and Iran concluded their third round of talks in Geneva today.
“We were able to identify the main elements of a possible agreement and discuss these elements,” Araghchi told Iran’s state-run Press TV.
“Of course, there are still differences, but in most cases we have at least reached a general understanding of how to resolve these issues,” he added.
Based on that progress, Araghchi said, the parties agreed to assign their technical teams to meet in Vienna at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency to begin work on the technical aspects of the potential agreement.
Araghchi also said sanctions relief for Iran was a central focus of the discussions.
