The Trump Administration’s Take on Epstein Files: A New Chapter in Political Theater
The Trump administration, initially hesitant about the Justice Department’s decision to unveil documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, has seized the opportunity to spotlight perennial scapegoat Bill Clinton, whose name surfaced in the recent release of photos, emails, and interviews.
“I wonder why the Biden DOJ refused to release the files…” remarked DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin on his personal X account, accompanying his message with a partially redacted image of Clinton in a pool with an unidentified woman. Another photo shared by Gilmartin features Clinton alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s long-time associate convicted on sex trafficking charges in 2021.
Interestingly, both Trump and the DOJ delayed the release of these files until Congress enacted a bill allowing it, which Trump signed into law last month.
Clinton’s association with Epstein has long contributed to his status as a favorite target for the MAGA movement. High-profile figures in this camp have referenced Clinton in their calls for the release of the documents, continuing this narrative after the DOJ’s recent disclosures.
“Slick Willy! @BillClinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know…” tweeted White House Communications Director Steven Cheung on X.
White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson added, “Here is Bill Clinton in a hot tub next to someone whose identity has been redacted. Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the DOJ is specifically instructed to redact only the faces of victims or minors. It’s time for the media to start asking real questions,” she posted on her X account.
While the act permits the DOJ to redact information related to ongoing investigations, the timeline and specifics of the newly released photo remain ambiguous.
In the trove of photos, Clinton is depicted wearing matching shirts with Epstein, interacting with a dancer, and even sitting with a redacted woman on his lap aboard what appears to be an airplane. Notably, he is also seen at a dinner next to rock star Mick Jagger, alongside Maxwell and Epstein.
Epstein faced numerous state and federal charges over two decades concerning the sexual abuse and trafficking of many underage girls, some as young as 14. He pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to charges that included soliciting prostitution from a minor and was awaiting trial on federal charges when he died by suicide in jail in 2019. His connections to the elite and attempts to suppress information about him have become a focal point in the national political discourse, exacerbating bipartisan tensions and deepening divisions within Trump’s base.
The released files were heavily redacted. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated earlier that the initial release would only be partial, with the promise of potentially hundreds of thousands more documents to follow in the coming weeks.
A spokesperson for Clinton stated that the timing of the document release, occurring on a Friday afternoon, was “about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they’ll try and hide forever.”
“They can release as many grainy, decades-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton,” stated Angel Ureña, deputy chief of staff for Clinton, in a statement. “There are two types of people here: those who knew nothing and distanced themselves from Epstein, and those who maintained ties with him after his crimes were revealed. We belong to the first group. No amount of stalling by those in the second group will change that.”
Clinton and Epstein have been linked since the early 1990s, having shared social circles. Their interactions have been documented in various photographs. Clinton flew on Epstein’s private jet in the early 2000s, on trips purportedly related to the Clinton Foundation’s work in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Ureña has previously asserted that these trips were purely professional.
Despite the numerous associations, Clinton has never faced accusations of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, maintaining that he was unaware of Epstein’s illicit activities, a claim reiterated by a spokesperson in a social media post six years ago.
This month, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released additional photographs from Epstein’s estate featuring Clinton.
Trump has consistently alleged that Clinton frequently visited Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands—the alleged epicenter for sex trafficking—where Epstein entertained numerous high-profile acquaintances. However, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles stated in a recent Vanity Fair interview that Trump was “wrong” to link Clinton directly to Epstein’s criminal activities.
Interestingly, Trump and Epstein were once friends, a relationship that Trump claims soured years ago. He has denied any wrongdoing pertaining to Epstein’s operations, and no evidence suggests his involvement in Epstein’s trafficking schemes.
Brakkton Booker contributed to this report.
