A spokesperson for former president Bill Clinton said late Friday that the White House was attempting to use him as a scapegoat following the congressionally ordered release of justice department files that included photographs showing Clinton alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The images, which circulated widely after their release, also included a photograph of Clinton with Maxwell and a young woman in a swimming pool, as well as other images depicting Clinton with prominent public figures. The spokesperson argued that the timing and manner of the release were politically motivated rather than driven by transparency.
In a statement posted on X, the spokesperson rejected the idea that the release was intended to protect Clinton, stating: “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 continued by asserting that the release was meant to divert attention from other issues, adding: “This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they’ll try and hide forever. So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be.” The spokesperson further cited remarks from White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, referencing an interview with Vanity Fair in which Wiles acknowledged that Clinton had not been on Epstein’s Caribbean island, despite repeated claims by Donald Trump suggesting otherwise.
Clinton has consistently maintained that he severed ties with Epstein around 2005, prior to Epstein’s guilty plea in Florida on charges related to solicitation of a minor. That position was reiterated in the statement released Friday by Clinton’s spokesperson, Angel Ureña, who said: “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. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats.” The statement emphasized that Clinton was not among those who maintained relationships with Epstein after his criminal conduct became publicly known.
Details of the Released Photographs and Official Reactions
The photographs released by the justice department show Clinton in several different settings. One image depicts him in an underground swimming pool with Maxwell and a woman whose facial features have been redacted. Other images show Clinton aboard a plane with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, and attending a dinner with Mick Jagger, Epstein, and other public figures. After the release, the swimming pool photograph was reposted on X by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt with the caption “Oh my!” accompanied by a red-faced emoji. Separately, White House communications director Steven Cheung posted commentary on X, writing: “Slick Willy! @BillClinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know… ,”
According to White House visitor records cited in news reports, Epstein visited the White House at least 17 times during the early years of Clinton’s presidency. After Clinton left office in 2001, he also traveled on Epstein’s private jet on multiple occasions, including trips to Asia and Africa connected to work related to the Clinton Global Initiative. Despite these documented interactions, Clinton has never been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Nevertheless, former president Donald Trump has repeatedly made insinuations about their relationship. Last month, Trump called on the justice department and the FBI to “investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton,” framing the Epstein scandal as an issue he has sought to associate primarily with Democrats.
The release of the photographs coincides with upcoming congressional scrutiny of the Clintons’ past associations with Epstein. Both Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and presidential candidate, are scheduled to give depositions before the House oversight committee regarding their ties to Epstein. Those depositions, originally planned for the previous week, have been rescheduled for 13 and 14 January. The committee’s chair, James Comer, has warned that contempt proceedings could be pursued if the Clintons do not appear for depositions on those dates, according to a report by Politico.
Epstein Photo Release and Political Fallout
The justice department’s release of decades-old photographs has intensified political tensions while renewing scrutiny of past associations involving Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton’s representatives continue to assert that he cut ties with Epstein well before the financier’s crimes became public and maintain that the release is being used for political purposes. As congressional depositions approach, the issue remains a focal point of debate, with competing claims over transparency, accountability, and political motivation shaping the ongoing response.
