A spokesperson for former President Bill Clinton called for the release of all remaining files related to the former president from federal investigations into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, accusing the Department of Justice of selectively releasing materials to imply wrongdoing.
Angel Ureña, representing Clinton, issued a statement Monday challenging the DOJ’s handling of the document release that followed a congressionally mandated deadline. Ureña said someone or something is being protected by the department’s approach to releasing the materials.
“We need no such protection,” Ureña wrote, calling on President Donald Trump to direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately release any remaining materials referring to, mentioning or containing a photograph of Bill Clinton.
The DOJ released thousands of files related to Epstein on Friday, December 19, 2025, following passage of a law signed by Trump requiring the release of all documents from federal investigations into the disgraced financier. The Friday release included numerous photographs from decades ago showing Clinton with Epstein, including images of Clinton in a jacuzzi and swimming with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
Ureña accused the department of using selective releases to imply wrongdoing about individuals who have already been repeatedly cleared by the very same Department of Justice over many years under presidents and attorneys general of both parties. The photos were released without any context or background information.
More than 200 lawyers are working on reviewing the files for release, the DOJ said in a statement December 23, 2025. The department said it is committed to transparency and redacting only what is legally required.
“NO redactions have been or will be made to protect famous individuals or politically exposed persons,” the department said in its statement.
The law requiring the release mandated that all materials be made public by December 19, 2025, but the department has faced backlash from both victims and lawmakers for not meeting that deadline with a complete release. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the slow rollout, saying the department wanted to continue reviewing documents to protect victims.
Some of Epstein’s victims said identifying information about survivors has been exposed in un-redacted documents despite the department’s stated commitment to protecting their identities. Lawmakers Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have threatened contempt charges against Bondi over the handling of the file release.
Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes. The former president traveled with Epstein on the financier’s private jet in 2002 and 2003 to locations including Bangkok, Brunei, Rwanda, Russia and China. Records also show Epstein visited the White House at least 17 times during Clinton’s presidency.
Clinton cut ties with Epstein around 2005, before the financier’s crimes became publicly known.
Trump weighed in on the controversy Monday, saying he likes Bill Clinton and hates to see photos of him released. “Everybody was friendly with this guy,” Trump said, referring to Epstein.
Epstein took his own life in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 and is currently serving her sentence for her role in facilitating Epstein’s abuse of underage girls.
The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed both Bill and Hillary Clinton for depositions on January 13 and 14. Committee Chairman James Comer has indicated that lawmakers could pursue contempt charges if the former president and former secretary of state do not comply with the subpoenas.
The ongoing document release represents one of the most significant public disclosures of materials related to Epstein’s criminal activities and associations. The files have drawn intense public interest due to the number of prominent individuals who had connections to the financier before his crimes became widely known.
Ureña’s statement emphasized that the manner and content of the DOJ’s releases make clear that protection is being extended to someone or something, though he said it remains unclear who or what is being shielded. The spokesperson argued that refusing to release all materials related to Clinton would confirm widespread suspicions that the department’s actions are about insinuation rather than transparency.
The DOJ must redact identifying information about victims, minors and potential victims, as well as privileged material under legal requirements, officials said.
The photos released Friday showing Clinton with various celebrities and in social settings with Epstein and Maxwell date back more than 20 years, predating public knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. The lack of context provided with the images has fueled debate about whether their release serves a legitimate transparency purpose or merely creates unfounded implications.
