Hillary Clinton Denies Links to Epstein and Maxwell

Former Secretary of State clashes with BBC reporter over connections to convicted sex offenders

Feb. 19, 2026 at 10:55am

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denied having any connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell during a BBC interview. Clinton claimed she and former President Bill Clinton have a "very clear record" on the matter, though a CNN reporter noted that Maxwell had attended Clinton Global Initiative events and Chelsea Clinton's wedding.

Why it matters

The Clinton family's ties to Epstein and Maxwell have been a source of controversy, with questions raised about the extent of their relationship and interactions. This interview highlights the ongoing scrutiny and Clinton's efforts to distance herself from the scandal.

The details

In the BBC interview, reporter Jessica Parker referenced the Clintons' connections to Epstein and Maxwell, prompting Clinton to deny any links. Clinton said she did not recall ever meeting Epstein, though she acknowledged meeting Maxwell on a few occasions at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) events, which she said thousands of people attend. However, a CNN reporter noted that Maxwell's charity had partnered with CGI and she was an honored guest in 2013, suggesting more substantial involvement. The Clintons have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee's probe into Epstein, with the former president set to appear on February 27 and the former secretary of state on February 26.

  • The BBC interview was posted to YouTube on February 17, 2026.
  • The Clintons agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee on February 2, 2026.
  • The former president is set to testify on February 27, 2026.
  • The former secretary of state is slated to testify on February 26, 2026.

The players

Hillary Clinton

Former Secretary of State and former First Lady who denied having connections to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Bill Clinton

Former President who the Clintons claim took some rides on Epstein's airplane for charitable work.

Jeffrey Epstein

Deceased sex offender who had connections to the Clinton family.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Associate of Jeffrey Epstein who was convicted of assisting him in abusing minors.

Jessica Parker

BBC Berlin correspondent who interviewed Hillary Clinton and pressed her about the Clintons' links to Epstein and Maxwell.

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What they’re saying

“You know, we have no links. We have a very clear record that we've been willing to talk about, which my husband has said he took some rides on the airplane for his charitable work. I don't recall ever meeting him.”

— Hillary Clinton, Former Secretary of State

“Maxwell did not just go to CGI, Maxwell and her charity partnered with CGI and Maxwell was an honored guest in 2013 there for her ocean charity making commitments at CGI. We saw that she had complementary access.”

— Andrew Kaczynski, CNN Senior Politics Reporter

What’s next

The former president and former secretary of state are set to testify before the House Oversight Committee's probe into Epstein on February 27 and February 26, 2026, respectively.

The takeaway

The Clintons' connections to Epstein and Maxwell remain a source of controversy, with the former secretary of state's denial of any links being challenged by evidence of their interactions. The upcoming congressional testimony will likely shed more light on the nature and extent of the Clintons' relationships with the convicted sex offenders.