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Hillary Clinton's Deposition Briefly Paused After Photo from Closed-Door Interview Gets Posted Online; World Economic Forum CEO Stepping Down After Investigation; Texas Senate Primary Showdown Underway; Early Voting Data Shows Dem Primary Turnout Surging in Texas; Prosecution in Deadly GA School Shooting Could Rest Today 3- 3:30p ET

Aired February 26, 2026 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[15:00:26]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN HOST: Breaking news on the House Oversight Committee's deposition ongoing of Hillary Clinton. Right now, the former Secretary of State is facing off with lawmakers as they investigate convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Former President Bill Clinton himself will testify tomorrow. A source says that both depositions will be taped and Republican staff have signaled they will release the footage. But just moments ago, the Ranking Member on the Oversight Committee demanded this.

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REP. ROBERT GARCIA (D-CA): A full transcript, unedited, of the Secretary's questions and the answers need to be released by the majority in the next 24 hours. We need -- the -- the public and the American people have a right to know exactly what she said, what questions were asked of her, and how she responded.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: So far today, Secretary Clinton in her testimony has directly challenged lawmakers to put President Trump under oath, something which Democratic lawmakers are also calling for. We should note, President Trump has long denied all wrongdoing related to Epstein or any allegation of sexual misconduct. The Clintons have also not been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Clinton's testimony was briefly paused today when a conservative podcaster posted this photo of her online. The podcaster, Benny Johnson, said it was provided by Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, despite rules that prevented photos inside that room. CNN's MJ Lee, she's live in Chappaqua, New York. And of course, the depositions continuing.

We're getting some sense of the kinds of questions, but also the kinds of answers that Secretary Clinton is -- is giving in response inside that room. MJ LEE, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jim, we are

now about to enter hour five of this deposition of Hillary Clinton. And I think you're right that, you know, the headlines, if any, that have come out so far today have not really been of substance. That is new information about Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their actions. And any new information about the sex trafficking ring that he had operated.

Moments ago, we saw Democrats from the House Oversight Committee coming out to talk to reporters, and their message was basically that they had learned nothing new, nothing important from Hillary Clinton's deposition so far, and that essentially they have the wrong person, that they shouldn't be spending time with Hillary Clinton in the hot seat, that there are many, many other people that they should be questioning instead about their knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein, including, of course, the current president, President Donald Trump.

Now, meanwhile, you mentioned Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, who appeared to have taken photos from inside the deposition room and shared it, and they were subsequently posted online. That had prompted a brief pause in the deposition earlier today, with a spokesperson for Hillary Clinton coming out to say that violates the agreed-upon rules. She walked by our camera just a few moments ago, and a number of us asked her about her decision to take those photos and share them. And she said, why not take those photos? I haven't been reprimanded. And when I did ask the Congresswoman whether there was anything from the deposition so far that has stood out to her, she said that she admired Hillary Clinton's blue suit.

So, I think all of that sort of captures just what a partisan moment this entire day has been. But still, I think the fact that we are here in Chappaqua to see the deposition of the former first lady and secretary of state, and then, of course, heading into tomorrow, the deposition of the former president, Bill Clinton, that does give you a good picture of where we are sort of in the bigger arc of the Jeffrey Epstein saga and story, that there is so much desire for any new information about Jeffrey Epstein and all of his actions going back many years. And a lot of questions, a lot more certainly than ever before, being asked about anybody else who should be questioned, who should potentially be investigated, including someone who sits in the Trump administration now, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. That's a name that we have heard multiple times so far. Jim.

SCIUTTO: Well, we heard Democratic lawmakers saying a president -- precedent has now been set by calling Bill Clinton as they repeated their call to have President Trump testify under oath himself.

[15:05:05]

MJ Lee in Chappaqua, thanks so much. Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: There's been another high-profile resignation linked to the DOJ release of the Epstein files. It is Borge Brende, the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, stepping down following an independent investigation into his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Brende interviewed President Trump last month after his address to government and world leaders in Davos. CNN Business and Economics Reporter Anna Cooban is with us now on this story.

Anna, what more do we know about what led to this decision?

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS REPORTER: Well, Brianna, this came after an independent review by the World Economic Forum. Now, remember, that's an organization which hosts this really massive conference in Davos, Switzerland, January every single year. Obviously, it happened quite recently. It was quite high profile. And they conducted this review after it came to light that Brende had had three dinners -- business dinners with Jeffrey Epstein across 2018 and 2019, at least one of which was held in Epstein's home in New York City, which happened just weeks before Epstein was arrested on federal charges of child sex trafficking.

And they've had email correspondence, text messages over a period of time. And also, all of that came years after Epstein, we know, pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor in 2008. He was handed an 18- month prison sentence. So, obviously, the -- the judgment of Brende has been called into question. There is no indication of any personal wrongdoing here or legal wrongdoing.

But Brende himself has said in a statement in early Feb that he was completely unaware of Epstein's past and criminal activities. And if he had been, he would not have attended these dinners. He also said that I recognize I could have conducted a more thorough investigation into Epstein's history and that I regret not doing so.

But I think, Brianna, this is part of really gathering steam, a growing trend of accountability for many people across business and government related to the Epstein files.

KEILAR: Yes, it certainly is. It feels like it's one big name after another. Anna Cooban, thank you so much for that update, we appreciate it.

Still to come, Democratic turnout is surging in Texas ahead of next Tuesday's primary election. We're going to take a look at the early voting data.

Plus, mediators said there has been significant progress after another round of key nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S., but how much stock should we put in that?

And then later, Colin Gray, the father facing murder charges after his son allegedly shot up his high school, is expected to take the stand in his defense as soon as this week. We'll have that and much more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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[15:11:59]

KEILAR: New data on early voting in Texas shows Democratic turnout surging ahead of next Tuesday's Senate primaries. About 850,000 ballots have already been cast. That is nearly 60 percent higher than at this point in 2020, the last time Texas had a highly competitive Democratic statewide primary. Democratic voters are now choosing between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Representative James Talarico.

And on the Republican side, Senator John Cornyn is facing a tough primary challenge from Congressman Wesley Hunt, as well as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. GOP turnout so far is only slightly ahead of its 2020 pace. CNN Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny is joining us on this story.

And you actually are just back from Texas. What are you hearing?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is no doubt there is Democratic enthusiasm in Texas, as we have seen in special elections and other elections for the last year or so. But those early voting numbers are incredibly interesting, 850,000 as of Tuesday. So, certainly more now. Tomorrow now is the last day of early voting. So, that is an extraordinary number.

However, in every race that you and I have covered for a long time, you have to temper early voting because it also likely eats away from some of the voting on Election Day. But there is no doubt that Democratic enthusiasm is very high. And this is for the Democratic Senate primary. James Talarico has caught the imagination and attention of many voters. And Jasmine Crockett is a well-known person in Texas as well.

But talking to voters there, there is a hunger and a sense to, sort of, stand up to the Trump administration. And one voter we talked to in College Station the other day, Sandra Petty, explained it like this, how she believes Democrats could elect a U.S. senator from Texas.

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ZELENY: As you know, it's been quite a while since a Democrat was elected to a U.S. Senate seat here.

SANDRA PETTY, TEXAS VOTER: Yes.

ZELENY: He wasn't born ...

PETTY: Right.

ZELENY: ... it was 1988. Why do you think this could be a different moment?

PETTY: I think people are tired of fussing and fighting. I think they're tired of every time we turn on the television, there's negativity about other races. I think ice in our state is something to be reckoned with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: So, look, this is an opportunity for Democrats to sort of voice their opinion to what they've been seeing happening in Texas and beyond. So, this is one of the reasons that midterm election years are always so dangerous to a president's party, because it's a chance for voters to rise up a bit. And we certainly are seeing that in Texas now.

It's a long time until November, so let's not talk about that general election. But for this primary, at least, there is excitement.

KEILAR: What did her T-shirt say?

ZELENY: Her T-shirt said, never underestimate the power of an old lady who votes.

KEILAR: Oh, there it is.

ZELENY: So, she was someone that we met at a James Talarico rally in College Station. And there was a pretty wide mix of ages there, a lot of older people, younger people. But that certainly is what is in her heart. She had already voted early. She's one of those 850,000 people who voted early.

KEILAR: I love that. Own it, sister. So funny.

Okay, so Democrats, are they also seeing strong turnout in other primaries or is this a Texas thing?

ZELENY: It's not just a Texas thing. The primaries next week also include North Carolina and Arkansas. We are seeing a higher early vote turnout there as well. So, look, like all the special elections we've seen for the last year, there is big Democratic enthusiasm. There is no doubt about it. There's almost no exception to that. But again, we don't know exactly what it means, because some people won't vote on Election Day. They've already voted.

But one thing we know that Democratic enthusiasm, at least, is high.

KEILAR: Yes. Jeff, thank you so much. It's so interesting to hear from the voters. And also, to see their awesome fashion choices.

ZELENY: She wore it for a reason.

KEILAR: Always fun.

All right, coming up, prosecutors are expected to call their final witness in the trial of Colin Gray, who is the father facing murder charges after a school shooting rampage allegedly carried out by his son.

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[15:20:36]

SCIUTTO: Prosecutors in the trial of a Georgia father whose son allegedly killed four people at a local high school are close to arresting their case. Today is day nine of the Colin Gray trial, and prosecutors are questioning their last witness. Gray, you'll remember, is accused of gifting his son the rifle that the then-14-year-old allegedly used in the 2024 shooting rampage. He is expected to take the stand in his own defense and has pleaded not guilty to 49 felony counts.

Let's get the latest on today's testimony from CNN's Jean Casarez.

Jean, I understand jurors were expected to see some key surveillance video today.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's happening right now. They've called what we believe is the final witness for the prosecution. It is an agent from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. And what this jury is going to see, and it is going to be played in the gallery, not broadcast outside of the gallery, would be the crime scene, the actual shooting as it happened at Apalachee High School, September 4th of 2024.

And the prosecution believes that is important because the rifle that was used was purchased by the father of the defendant, who now stands trial on 29 counts and is facing life in prison himself. Today has been such an important day for the prosecution because what they have done is taken those final months before the shooting and gone month by month by month to show the progression.

It all began when the rifle was purchased for as a Christmas present in December of 2023rd. And then it goes on to show how Colt was combative with his father, and he was escalating with -- with tendencies toward violence, trying to punch his father, trying to break windows. And the father sends a text to Jenni, their daughter, and he and his wife's daughter, and says, what's wrong with Colt? I don't understand.

But Colt continually wanted presents. He wanted his father to buy him every accessory possible for the gun, and the father wanted to take him deer hunting. That was the point, he said, of getting the gun. But the son controlled the relationship, not the father. It got to the point then when you are close to and on the day of the shooting. And before that, he had put a gun safe in his Amazon account, hadn't purchased it. There were arrangements for a state counselor to come to talk to Colt a couple days after that actual shooting happened.

But on the day of the shooting, there was a final text exchange between father and son just minutes before that shooting happened. And what the son says to the father is, "I am sorry. I'm sorry." The father then says, "About what?" He says, "Know that I love you and Jamie (ph) and Colby (ph)." That's the little -- that his son. Colt, the shooter, says, "You're not to blame for any of this. You didn't do anything." And then the defendant says, "Hey, what's wrong?" And he realizes right now something's going on.

And at the same time, Colt is sending some of these same messages to his mother. His mother calls the school. His mother says, I'm concerned about my son. And then the father, right when the shooting begins, the father, on trial, sends his son a text saying, look, I know you tried school. It's not working. I'll come right now. I'll pick you up. We'll go out to lunch. We'll talk about online school. Because his son just did not stay in school, gel in school. It was a constant battle.

SCIUTTO: Jean, it's not the first time a parent has been prosecuted following a shooting like this. Can you explain what the defense's argument is here?

CASAREZ: The defense is going to be here that the defendant did not know that his son would commit a school shooting, had no idea. You know, I covered the James and Jennifer Crumbley case, and there is a lot of hands-on here between father and son. In the Crumbley case, they ignored their son a lot. Here, hands-on completely. But the father just didn't seem to get it, understand what his son could do. And it is what the father knew could happen in this case when he had a son.

[15:25:03]

I've got to tell you this really fast. It's amazing because the mother and the son, Colt, the shooter, they researched and watched documentaries on James and Jennifer Crumbley. And the mother actually researched and read CNN's article after the conviction of manslaughter of the Crumbleys, of parents being responsible for their child who commits a school shooting. She researched that before her son committed a school shooting.

SCIUTTO: Good Lord. What a tragedy all around. Jean Casarez, thanks so much.

Just ahead, Democratic lawmakers say that Hillary Clinton is cooperating in the congressional probe into Jeffrey Epstein. We're going to have the latest on her closed-door testimony coming up.

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