Hillary Clinton accuses Donald Trump's administration of a cover-up over Jeffrey Epstein files as the former president insists he was "totally exonerated".
12:17, Tue, Feb 17, 2026 Updated: 12:18, Tue, Feb 17, 2026
Hillary Clinton pictured at the 76th Berlinale International film festival yesterday (Image: Getty)
Hillary Clinton has accused Donald Trump’s administration of a "cover-up" over files connected to Jeffrey Epstein. The former US Secretary of State made the remarks in a BBC interview recorded in Berlin, where she said the Justice Department was "slow-walking" the release of information and called for the material to be made public in full as pressure grows in Congress.
"Get the files out," she added. The White House has rejected the accusation. A spokesperson told the BBC: "By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee's subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epstein's Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have." Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Mr Trump insisted he had been cleared, saying he was "totally exonerated" and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with offences related to Epstein. The dispute centres on access to federal records linked to Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges after a previous conviction for soliciting a minor.
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One (Image: Getty Images)
The Justice Department has released millions of pages of material this month under the Epstein Files Transparency Act but held back some documents, triggering bipartisan calls for wider disclosure.
Officials say all material covered by the law has now been published, though some lawmakers maintain the release is incomplete.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has urged the department to also publish internal memos explaining past prosecutorial decisions involving Epstein and his associates.
Hillary Clinton and former president Bill Clinton are due to give evidence before a congressional committee investigating how the case was handled. A planned move to hold them in contempt of Congress was dropped after they agreed to appear.
Bill Clinton is named multiple times in the released files, but neither he nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein's victims and both have said they were unaware of his criminal activity.
Mrs Clinton said: "We are more than happy to say what we know, which is very limited… and we want to do it in public. Let's make this transparent.
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"I think everybody should testify who is asked to. I just want it to be fair. I want everybody treated the same way… We have nothing to hide. We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant."
Mr Trump said: "I have nothing to hide. I have been exonerated. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I have been totally exonerated. I watched [Clinton], she seriously has Trump derangement syndrome."
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The Department of Justice has previously said: "Some docs contain untrue and sensationalist claims against Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear the claims are unfounded and false and if they have any shred of credibility they certainly would have been weaponized against Trump already."
Mrs Clinton is expected to appear before the House Oversight Committee later this month, with Bill Clinton to follow, as lawmakers continue to press officials over redactions and withheld pages cited for privacy and investigative reasons.
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