Clintons agree to testify on Epstein. What the files say
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Photos of Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger, Richard Branson and Ghislaine Maxwell appear in an illustration after the U.S. Justice Department began releasing records from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed to testify before Congress about Jeffrey Epstein after the House threatened to hold them in criminal contempt.
Why it matters: The Epstein files laid bare the convicted sex offender's chummy relations with wealthy and politically connected people across decades.
Catch up quick: President Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's connections to Bill Clinton and others.
- While Bill Clinton was a known acquaintance of Epstein, he has said he was unaware of Epstein's crimes and had ended their acquaintance.
- Hillary Clinton does not appear to have been mentioned in the Epstein files. Her spokesperson Nick Merrill told NBC News it's unclear "what the hell Hillary Clinton has to do with" the House investigation.
- The Clintons denied any wrongdoing tied to Epstein and have advocated for more transparency over the files.
- The Clinton Foundation did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Clinton's travels, visits with Epstein
Bill Clinton's name was featured frequently throughout the millions of Epstein files, mostly tied to correspondence and flight logs connected to Epstein's wider network.
- Clinton appeared on Epstein's private jet logs at least 16 times between 2002 and 2003, according to a CNN analysis. Clinton has said the trips were for Clinton Foundation work.
Photos of Bill Clinton with Epstein, Maxwell
Files released by Epstein's estate in December included undated photographs of Clinton posing with Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
- More photos released in December showed Clinton in a pool. In others he appeared with rock star Mick Jagger and pop star Michael Jackson.
Unverified sexual abuse allegations
The latest release of Epstein documents featured unverified tips that included allegations of sexual abuse by Bill Clinton.
- There are also accusations against President Trump based on unverified tips compiled by the DOJ.
- Both have denied any wrongdoing.
Emails with Maxwell
The Epstein documents show Clinton's team communicated with Maxwell on multiple occasions from 2001 to 2004 via email.
- Many of the emails are tied to travel and food logistics. In others, Maxwell wonders if Clinton himself would be attending an event.
Epstein pleads the Fifth over Clinton
A deposition from September 2016 showed Epstein invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when asked multiple times about his relationship with Bill Clinton. Details of this were first unsealed in 2024.
- Epstein was allegedly asked questions such as: "Please describe all dinners you've ever had with Bill Clinton" and "Please list every place you and Bill Clinton have ever been together."
More from Axios:
Why the Epstein scandal may never die
Inside Democrats' shock revolt on holding Bill Clinton in contempt
