Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has accused the administration of President Donald Trump of conducting a "cover-up" regarding the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The remarks came during an interview with the BBC in Berlin, where Clinton was attending the annual World Forum on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
"Get the files out. They are slow-walking it," Clinton told the BBC, criticizing what she described as deliberate delays in making additional documents public. She emphasized the need for full transparency, stating that she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, "have nothing to hide" and have repeatedly called for the complete release of the Epstein files. "Sunlight is the best disinfectant," she added.
Clinton's comments follow the U.S. Department of Justice's release of over three million pages of Epstein-related documents in late January 2026, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by Congress. However, she argued that not all materials have been disclosed promptly, suggesting political motivations behind the pace of disclosure.
The Clintons are scheduled to appear before the Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in connection with its ongoing investigation into Epstein's network and the federal handling of related cases. Hillary Clinton is set to testify on February 26, 2026, with Bill Clinton appearing the following day, February 27. The couple agreed to depositions in early February after initially resisting subpoenas, averting a planned contempt of Congress vote. They have advocated for public hearings rather than closed-door sessions, with Hillary Clinton telling the BBC: "We will show up but we think it would be better to have it in public. I just want it to be fair. I want everybody treated the same way."
Bill Clinton, mentioned multiple times in the released Epstein files for past associations—including flights on Epstein's plane in the early 2000s for humanitarian work—has stated he cut off contact with Epstein around two decades ago and denies any knowledge of or involvement in his crimes.
In response to Hillary Clinton's accusations, President Trump addressed the matter while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, February 16, 2026. "I've been exonerated. I had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. They went in hoping that they'd find it, and they found just the opposite," Trump said. He added that "Clinton and many other Democrats have been pulled in," and claimed the files had cleared him while implicating others. The White House defended its actions, stating that the administration had released thousands of pages, cooperated with congressional requests, and done "more for the victims than Democrats ever have," including calls for further probes into Epstein's associates.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York City jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. The case has fueled ongoing scrutiny of high-profile figures linked to him through social or travel connections, though mere mentions in documents do not imply wrongdoing or criminality.
The congressional probe, led by Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), focuses on potential mismanagement in prior federal investigations and broader implications for accountability. No charges have resulted directly from the released files to date, and the Justice Department maintains it has complied with legal requirements.
Clinton's interview in Berlin coincides with heightened partisan tensions over the Epstein matter, with both sides accusing the other of politicizing the tragedy and victim justice. As the Clintons prepare for their testimony, the episode underscores persistent divisions in Washington over transparency, accountability, and the legacy of Epstein's crimes.
