Bill Clinton’s Appeal for Transparency
In a recent move, Bill Clinton’s spokesperson urged the Justice Department to make public all documents related to the investigation surrounding accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The goal here? To dispel any insinuations of wrongdoing against those who have already been cleared.
Among the documents released on December 19 were various snapshots of Clinton, including a vacation moment in a hot tub alongside some well-known personalities. However, many lawmakers and even Clinton’s deputy chief of staff Angel Urena were quick to criticize the Justice Department for not disclosing hundreds of thousands of pages linked to women who have accused Epstein of abuse.
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In a December 22 social post, Urena emphasized that Clinton does not shy away from unveiling any remaining documents mentioning him or including his image: “He needs no special protection,” he stated.
Urena expressed concerns regarding the potential “selective releases” that might lead to public suspicion. Such actions could imply wrongdoing, rather than fostering the desired transparency.
Recent legislation, signed by President Donald Trump, mandates that by December 19, the Department must release all files that don’t disclose the names of alleged victims, depict child sexual abuse, or obstruct legal cases.
When the Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, announced the release of numerous files on December 19, he acknowledged that there are still many documents under review. He mentioned that some information may be withheld for legal reasons, such as attorney-client privilege.
Blanche assured that more documents would be unveiled in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, the law stipulates that the department must list any documents held from public release and the rationale behind it within 15 days.
There’s some tension brewing in Congress, as two House representatives have threatened to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt due to the partial release of documents. Bondi has countered this by asserting that the Trump administration stands as the most open in history.
In November, Trump made headlines by calling for an investigation into Clinton’s relationship with Epstein. Clinton is currently facing a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee.
In response, Urena highlighted a Vanity Fair interview posted on December 16, where Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, refuted claims that Clinton visited Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James. Wiles firmly stated, “There is no evidence” to support those allegations and confirmed that the president was mistaken about the visits.
This piece initially appeared in USA TODAY: Bill Clinton Urges for Full Disclosure of Epstein Documents
