Hillary Clinton Accuses Trump Admin of 'Cover-Up' on Epstein Files

Former Secretary of State says administration is 'slow walking' and 'stonewalling' release of documents

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has accused the Trump administration of a 'continuing cover-up' in the way it has handled the release of millions of documents relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton said the administration is 'slow walking' and 'redacting the names of men' in the files, while the Department of Justice has defended its handling of the documents as 'committed to transparency'.

Why it matters

The Epstein case has drawn intense scrutiny due to the wealthy financier's connections to powerful individuals. Clinton's accusations suggest an ongoing political battle over the release of documents that could implicate high-profile figures, raising questions about transparency and accountability.

The details

Clinton said the administration is 'slow walking' the release of the Epstein files and 'redacting the names of men' in the documents. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has defended the DOJ's handling, saying the department is 'committed to transparency.' The latest batch of files contained references to former President Bill Clinton, Clinton's husband, offering new insights into his staff's communications with Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

  • On Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi testified and 'refused to answer questions' about the Epstein files, according to Clinton.
  • The Clintons are set to appear for closed-door depositions in the House's Epstein probe later this month, after initially defying a congressional subpoena.

The players

Hillary Clinton

Former U.S. Secretary of State who has accused the Trump administration of a 'continuing cover-up' in its handling of the Epstein documents.

Todd Blanche

Deputy Attorney General who has defended the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files, saying the department is 'committed to transparency'.

Bill Clinton

Former U.S. President whose staff's communications with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were referenced in the latest batch of released documents.

Pam Bondi

Attorney General who testified on Wednesday and, according to Clinton, 'refused to answer questions' and 'diverted attention away from the matters at hand'.

James Comer

House Oversight Chairman who set the conditions for the Clintons to appear for closed-door depositions in the House's Epstein probe.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They are slow walking it, they are redacting the names of men who are in it, they are stonewalling legitimate requests from members of Congress.”

— Hillary Clinton, Former U.S. Secretary of State (BBC)

“We are committed to transparency and are hiding nothing.”

— Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General (CNN)

What’s next

The Clintons are set to appear for closed-door depositions in the House's Epstein probe later this month, after initially defying a congressional subpoena.

The takeaway

Clinton's accusations of a 'cover-up' by the Trump administration over the Epstein documents highlight the ongoing political tensions and questions of transparency surrounding this high-profile case. The release of these files has the potential to implicate powerful individuals, underscoring the need for a thorough and impartial investigation.