Bill Clinton Explains Hot Tub, Pool Photos from Epstein Files

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Bill Clinton has offered an explanation for viral photos released as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files that show the former US president in a hot tub and a pool with a woman whose face is redacted. Clinton told a Republican-led congressional panel that the photos were taken during a visit he made to Brunei at the invitation of the Sultan, who was interested in helping with the Clinton Foundation's AIDS initiative.

Why it matters

The photos have sparked renewed scrutiny of Clinton's ties to the convicted sex offender Epstein, whose sex crimes and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell have been the subject of a congressional investigation. Clinton has denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged flying on Epstein's private plane several times in the early 2000s.

The details

During his deposition, Clinton said the photos were taken at a hotel in Brunei, where the Sultan had invited him to stay and use the pool. Clinton said he swam around, sat in the hot tub for a few minutes, and then went to bed. He said he did not know the identity of the unidentified woman in the photos but believed she was a member of the traveling party. Clinton denied engaging in any sexual activities with the woman.

• In 2019, Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
• Last week, Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton testified before a Republican-led congressional panel investigating Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
• On Monday, the committee released videos of the Clintons' closed-door depositions in Chappaqua, New York.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The congressional panel is expected to continue its investigation into Epstein's sex crimes and the involvement of high-profile individuals, including the Clintons and Donald Trump.