Fresh scrutiny has fallen on the long-standing relationship between former US President Bill Clinton and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of thousands of documents by the US Department of Justice. The files, which include photographs, call logs, and court records, paint a detailed picture of an association that spanned over a decade, from the early 1990s into the mid-2000s.
Early Connections: Photos and Political Donations
The association between the Democratic leader and the disgraced financier dates back to the early 1990s. In September 1993, Epstein and his close associate Ghislaine Maxwell were photographed speaking with then-President Clinton after an event for donors to a White House restoration project. Public records also confirm that Epstein made two donations of $1,000 each to Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, cementing an early financial link.
By the early 2000s, their social and philanthropic circles continued to overlap. A 2002 New York Magazine article cited Clinton's spokesperson describing Epstein as "both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist." This period also saw Clinton utilise Epstein's private jet for travel.
Private Travel and the Birthday Book
Following Epstein's arrest in 2019, Clinton's office acknowledged the former president had taken four trips on Epstein's private jet between 2002 and 2003. These journeys included stops related to the work of the Clinton Foundation. The spokesperson also confirmed a 2002 meeting at Epstein's Harlem office and a brief visit to his New York apartment. An archived photograph shows the two men together in Brunei in 2002.
Further linking Clinton to Epstein's world, his name was listed among dozens of prominent figures who allegedly contributed messages to a book for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. The message next to Clinton's name praised Epstein's "curiosity" and "drive to make a difference." Clinton has not publicly commented on this alleged contribution.
DOJ Files Release: Photographic Evidence
The recent release of Epstein-related files by the US Justice Department has brought renewed focus to these connections. Among the heavily redacted materials are several photographs featuring Bill Clinton. The images include:
- Clinton on a private plane with a woman (face redacted) seated next to him, her arm around him.
- Clinton in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell and another person (faces redacted).
- Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose face is redacted.
The Department of Justice did not provide specific context for these images, nor did it specify when or where they were taken. The files do not allege any wrongdoing by the former president.
Clinton has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. In a 2019 statement, his spokesperson said Clinton had "not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade." In his memoir, Clinton wrote that he had "no inkling" of the crimes and had cut off contact by the time Epstein was first arrested in 2005. To date, no survivors of Epstein's abuse have accused Bill Clinton of wrongdoing.
Jeffrey Epstein was first convicted of sex offences in 2008 and died by suicide in a prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
