Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has launched a sharp critique against the Trump administration, accusing it of orchestrating a deliberate "cover-up" regarding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Speaking from Berlin at the World Forum, Clinton demanded full transparency, asserting that authorities are "slow-walking" the release of crucial documents.
Clinton's Call for Transparency
In a BBC interview on Monday, Clinton emphasized the urgent need for complete disclosure of all Epstein-related records. "Get the files out," she declared, highlighting her longstanding advocacy for public access to these materials. She described the contents as "horrifying" and stressed that transparency is essential for potential accountability.
"It is something that needs to be totally transparent," Clinton stated during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend. "I've called for many, many years for everything to be put out there so people can not only see what's in them but also, if appropriate, hold people accountable."
Trump's Response and Claims of Exoneration
President Trump swiftly countered Clinton's allegations, claiming the Epstein files have "totally exonerated" him while implicating the Clintons. In remarks to reporters on Monday, Trump asserted, "I have nothing to hide. I've been exonerated. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein."
He accused Clinton of suffering from "Trump derangement syndrome" and suggested the files have "pulled them in," referring to the Clintons and other Democrats. "They went in hoping that they'd find it and they found just the opposite," Trump added, defending his administration's handling of the matter.
Justice Department's Position
The Justice Department maintains it has fully complied with the 2025 Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bipartisan law signed by President Trump. In a recent letter to lawmakers, the DOJ stated it has released all pertinent records in its possession, denying any withholding of information.
However, legislators contest this assertion. Representative Nancy Mace, a key supporter of the transparency law, argued on social media that "your government is withholding information." Analysis suggests only about two percent of the data described by investigators has been released, according to internal emails obtained by Channel 4 News.
Congressional Scrutiny and Upcoming Testimonies
Both Hillary and Bill Clinton are scheduled to testify before Congress later this month regarding the Epstein probe, despite initially resisting subpoenas they deemed "invalid and legally unenforceable." Clinton indicated in her BBC interview that they would appear but preferred public hearings, accusing Republicans of using them as a "shiny object" to deflect from the Trump administration's actions.
The Clintons have consistently denied any contemporaneous knowledge of Epstein's crimes, and no survivors or authorities have accused them of wrongdoing. Bill Clinton is mentioned and pictured multiple times in the released files, though context remains unclear.
Allegations of Muddled Disclosures
Lawmakers have also criticized the DOJ for "muddying the waters" by including tangential names in disclosures, such as celebrities like Janis Joplin, who died when Epstein was 17, alongside convicted abusers like Larry Nassar. Representative Ro Khanna, leading the disclosure effort, called this practice "absurd" without proper clarification of how individuals were mentioned in the files.
As tensions escalate, the debate over the Epstein files continues to highlight deep partisan divides, with transparency and accountability at the forefront of national discourse.
