With the Epstein Files Transparency Act mandate hitting the December 19 deadline, the first batch of the US Department of Justice’s Jeffrey Epstein files release is particularly drawing attention for how heavily redacted the documents were.

But even beyond that, the DOJ put the spotlight on former US President Bill Clinton more than anything or anyone else. President Donald Trump, on the hand, mostly skipped a mention, other than a few photos hinting at the Republican politician’s past ties with the late convicted sex offender.

Bill Clinton’s deputy chief of staff particularly caught onto his repeated appearance in the trove of photos, emails and documents, accusing the DOJ of using the ex-president to possibly “shield” others.

Bill Clinton spokesperson issues statement after mandated Epstein Files release

The former president’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, took to X to share a statement in light of the development. The virtual message also, in turn, addressed MAGA’s criticism, as officials speculated that the Biden administration held back the release of the Epstein Files to save face and protect Clinton.

ALSO READ

Given the timing of Urena’s message, it further insinuated that certain photos may have been pushed in the first batch of the DOJ release to shift the attention away from Trump’s old connection with Epstein.

“The White House hasn’t been hiding these files for moths only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,” he wrote online. “This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they’ll try and hide forever.”

“So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be,” he added. Urena also took a snipe at White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who recently engaged with the Vanity Fair in a series of interview. One prominent takeaway from her conversations with them was that she said Trump was “wrong” to accused Clinton.

Notably, neither Trump nor Clinton has been formally incriminated in relation with any wrongdoing linked to Epstein’s nefarious activities over the years despite being associated with the predator in the past.

“There are two types of people here,” Clinton’s aide went on. “The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationship with him after.”

Urena asserted that Clinton belonged in the first group, adding, “No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. With even some from Trump’s own MAGA camp pushing for the Epstein Files to be released, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff said, “Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats.”

Bill Clinton pictures in DOJ’s Epstein Files

One of the prominent features on the DOJ website spotted the former president swimming in a pool with Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and an unidentified woman.

A second picture showed a woman sitting in close proximity to Clinton on what seems to be an airplane. A third snap caught him in a candid moment with Epstein and another one with the music artist Mick Jagger. There seems to be another one where he appears to be with the late Michael Jackson.

ALSO READ

It remains unclear where and when these photographs were clicked.

MAGA vs Bill Clinton

Trump has long contended that Clinton and other Democrats “spent large portions of their life with Epstein, and on his ‘Island.'” as per NYT. Although Susie wiles contradicted those claims in her recent Vanity Fair interview.

In light of the new Clinton images popping up on the DOJ website’s Epstein disclosure page, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote on X, ” Slick Willy! @BillClinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know…”

White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson also posted to her personal X account, “Here is Bill Clinton in a hot tub next to someone whose identity has been redacted. Per the Epstein Files Transparency Act, DOJ was specifically instructed only to redact the faces of victims and/or minors. Time for the media to start asking real questions.”

Meanwhile, DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin targeted Clinton as well, writing on X, “I wonder why the Biden DOJ refused to release the files…”