Bill Clinton responds to Epstein probe

 Bill Clinton has responded after Donald Trump said he would ask the Department of Justice (DoJ) to investigate the former Democratic President’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

In a brief statement posted on X, Clinton’s spokesperson Angel Ureña said: “These emails prove Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing. The rest is noise meant to distract from election losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else.” 

Newsweek reached out to the Clinton Foundation and the DoJ via email for further comment outside of normal business hours.

Why It Matters  

The DoJ’s decision to investigate Epstein’s connections to prominent political figures, including Clinton, has reignited public debate over high-profile associations with the late financier.  

The probe, initiated at Trump’s request, raises questions about the independence of federal law enforcement, political motivations behind such investigations, and ongoing calls for transparency about Epstein’s network and survivors’ justice.

What To Know 

On Friday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she had instructed United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, to investigate Epstein’s ties to political opponents of Trump, including Clinton.

The development follows the recent release of thousands of pages of Epstein-related documents by Congress and ongoing bipartisan demands to unseal more files. 

Bondi’s announcement came hours after Trump posted on Truth Social that he would request that she, the DoJ, and the FBI look into Epstein’s “involvement and relationship” with Clinton, as well as with former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.  

None of the individuals singled out by Trump have been accused in complaints from Epstein’s victims, and the investigation comes despite the longstanding DoJ tradition of operating independently from the White House. 

Clinton has previously acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private jet several times for work related to the Clinton Foundation, but has denied any wrongdoing.  

Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. 

What People Are Saying 

“These emails prove Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing. The rest is noise meant to distract,” Angel Urena, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. 

Trump told reporters on board Air Force One: “I’m the chief law enforcement officer of the country. I’m allowed to do it.”  

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the Epstein matter as “another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, with all arrows pointing to the Democrats.”  

Responding to Trump’s call for him to be investigated, Reid Hoffman posted on X: “Trump should release all of the Epstein files: every person and every document in the files. I want this complete release because it will show that the calls for baseless investigations of me are nothing more than political persecution and slander. I was never a client of Epstein’s and never had any engagement with him other than fundraising for MIT.” 

He added: “The call for an investigation is an obvious ploy to avoid releasing the files. Simply release all the files, and expose the people who had both deep and ongoing relationships with Epstein.” 

Attorney General Bondi posted on X: “The Department will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people.” 

What Happens Next 

The Justice Department probe is expected to review recently released emails, financial links, and testimonies involving Epstein and his network. 

A Republican-led Congressional committee is seeking testimony from Clinton. James Comer, House Oversight Committee Chairman, issued subpoenas to Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and eight other individuals as part of the panel’s investigation, per the BBC. 

Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, has indicated willingness to testify to Congress under legal protections, with the timing of this appearance yet to be announced.