A spokesperson for former US President Bill Clinton has launched a fierce defence, accusing the White House of using him as a political scapegoat following the release of photographs linking him to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Photos and Accusations Emerge
The accusations came late on Friday after the US Department of Justice released a cache of files and images as part of a congressionally ordered disclosure. Among them were photographs showing Clinton with Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as an image of the former president in a swimming pool with Maxwell and a young woman whose face was redacted.
In a sharply worded statement posted on X, Clinton's spokesperson, Angel Ureña, stated: "The White House hasn’t been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton." The statement argued the move was an attempt by the current administration to shield itself from future revelations.
Clinton has consistently maintained that he severed all ties with Epstein around 2005, years before the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor in Florida in 2008. Ureña's statement sought to draw a clear line, saying: "There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We’re in the first."
Political Point-Scoring and Upcoming Depositions
The release quickly became fodder for political attacks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted the pool photo on X with the caption "Oh my!" and a red-faced emoji. Communications Director Steven Cheung also commented, writing "Slick Willy! @BillClinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know…"
This incident occurs against a backdrop of long-running insinuations from former President Donald Trump regarding Clinton's connections to Epstein. Trump has repeatedly called for investigations into their relationship. The Clinton spokesperson's statement referenced comments from Trump's own campaign staff, noting that even Susie Wiles had acknowledged Clinton was never on Epstein's private island, contrary to Trump's claims.
The controversy is set to continue, as both Bill and Hillary Clinton are scheduled to give depositions to the House oversight committee on 13 and 14 January regarding their ties to Epstein. Committee Chair James Comer has threatened contempt proceedings if they do not comply.
Historical Context and Ongoing Fallout
Records show Epstein was a frequent visitor to the White House during Clinton's presidency, with logs indicating at least 17 visits. After leaving office, Clinton travelled on Epstein's private jet on several occasions for trips related to his Clinton Global Initiative charity work. He has never been formally accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein's crimes.
The newly released photographs also show Clinton on a plane with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, and at a dinner with Mick Jagger and Epstein. The strategic timing of the document dump on a Friday evening—a classic tactic for minimising media scrutiny—has only fuelled the political fire, with Clinton's team framing it as a transparent attempt at deflection.
