The release of long-sealed Jeffrey Epstein–related files has reignited one of the most politically charged scandals of the modern era, pulling former president Bill Clinton back into the spotlight—and into a confrontation with the White House. Clinton, through his spokesperson, is forcefully rejecting what he describes as a calculated attempt to use him as a political shield amid renewed scrutiny of the Epstein network.
Late Friday, following a congressionally mandated document dump by the US justice department, images circulated showing Clinton alongside Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and other high-profile figures. Among the most controversial was a photograph depicting Clinton in an underground swimming pool with Maxwell and a young woman whose face was redacted. Within hours, the images ricocheted across social media, amplified by official White House accounts and pro-Trump commentators.
Clinton’s camp wasted little time responding.
“This Is About Deflection, Not Transparency”
In a sharply worded statement posted on X, Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña accused the White House of deliberately releasing the files late on a Friday in an effort to control the narrative.
“The White House hasn’t been hiding these files for months only to dump them now to protect Bill Clinton,” the statement read. “This is about shielding themselves from what comes next—or from what they’ll try to hide forever.”
The message was clear: Clinton believes he is being positioned as a convenient scapegoat in a broader political strategy tied to the Epstein files release, congressional investigations, and the 2026 election cycle.
Ureña emphasized that the former president severed ties with Epstein in 2005—years before Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea in Florida for soliciting a minor. Clinton has consistently maintained that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and no involvement in them.
Two Camps, One Scandal
In perhaps the most pointed section of the statement, Clinton’s team drew a stark moral and political line:
“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.”
This framing taps into a growing public demand for accountability and clarity surrounding the Epstein scandal—one that cuts across party lines and continues to fuel distrust in institutions, elites, and political leadership.
The release of the photographs quickly took on a life of its own. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reposted the pool image with the caption “Oh my!” accompanied by a flushed-face emoji. Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, added his own commentary, mocking Clinton’s famously slippery political persona.
The optics mattered. Critics argue that official amplification of decades-old, grainy photographs undermines the stated goal of transparency, transforming a serious inquiry into political theater.
Trump, MAGA, and a Long-Running Narrative
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insinuated a uniquely Democratic connection to Epstein, frequently singling out Bill and Hillary Clinton. As recently as last month, Trump publicly called on the FBI and the justice department to “investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton,” despite a lack of formal accusations against the former president.
Even Susie Wiles, Trump’s own White House chief of staff, acknowledged in an interview with Vanity Fair that Clinton was never on Epstein’s private Caribbean island—directly contradicting a claim Trump has repeated for years.
What the Records Actually Show
Public records confirm that Epstein visited the White House at least 17 times during the early years of Clinton’s presidency. After Clinton left office in 2001, he traveled on Epstein’s private jet several times, including trips to Asia and Africa connected to humanitarian work through the Clinton Global Initiative.
Photos released this week also show Clinton with cultural icons including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Mick Jagger at various social gatherings—images that underscore how deeply Epstein embedded himself in elite circles across politics, finance, and entertainment.
Crucially, Clinton has never been charged or formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Depositions Loom in January
The renewed attention comes as both Bill and Hillary Clinton are scheduled to sit for depositions before the House oversight committee regarding their past associations with Epstein. Originally slated for December, the depositions have been postponed to 13 and 14 January.
Committee chair James Comer has warned that failure to appear could result in contempt proceedings—a move that would escalate tensions further and keep the Epstein scandal firmly in the headlines well into the new year.
As Clinton’s spokesperson concluded, the public is no longer satisfied with symbolic disclosures or selective leaks.
“Everyone expects answers, not scapegoats.”
Whether those answers emerge—or whether the Epstein saga continues to function as a political weapon—may define the next chapter of this enduring controversy.