Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have reportedly publicly distanced themselves from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to video recordings released Monday by the House Oversight Committee.
“We were friendly, but I didn’t know him well enough to say we were friends,” Bill Clinton said. “Well, at first, he really seemed to be like a vacuum cleaner. He really wanted information,” the former president said. But over time, Epstein seemed to be “just checking a box” with the conversations, he added.
Depositions, conducted behind closed doors last week, show Bill Clinton saying he ended his relationship with Epstein years before the financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting sex from a minor.
As per The Associated Press, Clinton told the committee that: “There’s nothing that I saw when I was around him that made me realize he was trafficking women.”
“Somehow Trump knew I had flown in Jeffrey Epstein’s aircraft,” Clinton told the committee. “He said, ‘You know, we had some great times together over the years, but we fell out all because of a real estate deal,'” he added.
The former U.S. president also addressed his interactions with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, saying his connection was through mutual contacts and adding, “she has to be punished” for her conviction.
READ: Hillary Clinton says, ‘I never met Jeffrey Epstein’ after deposition (February 27, 2026)
Who was Jeffrey Epstein?
Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier and convicted sex offender, born in 1953. He initially worked in banking and finance, eventually founding his own investment firm, which catered to wealthy clients. Epstein became widely known for his connections to powerful figures in politics, business, and entertainment, including presidents, royalty, and billionaires.
Epstein’s notoriety stems primarily from his criminal activities. In 2008, he was convicted in Florida for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution and served a controversial 13-month sentence with work release privileges. Investigations later revealed a much larger network of sexual abuse involving dozens of underage girls.
In July 2019, Epstein was arrested again on federal sex-trafficking charges. He died in custody a month later under circumstances officially ruled a suicide. Epstein’s life and crimes have had a lasting impact on discussions about accountability, wealth, and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
The recent disclosures about Bill and Hillary Clinton’s interactions with Jeffrey Epstein underscore the broader challenges of accountability and public perception when high-profile figures intersect with individuals involved in criminal activity. Even minimal or indirect associations with notorious offenders can attract scrutiny, influence public trust, and shape narratives long after events occur. These situations highlight the delicate balance between personal and professional relationships, public transparency, and historical interpretation.