CNN legal analyst Elie Honig delivered a blunt assessment of former President Bill Clinton’s response to the release of new Jeffrey Epstein files, warning that calls for “complete” transparency do little to explain troubling images now circulating publicly.
The controversy erupted after the Department of Justice released an initial batch of Epstein-related documents over the weekend. The files included numerous photographs showing Epstein alongside a range of high-profile figures, with Clinton appearing repeatedly. The images quickly drew attention as they placed the former Democratic president squarely within Epstein’s social circle.
Several photos show Clinton in close proximity to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. In one image, Clinton is aboard an aircraft with his hand on Michael Jackson’s shoulder as Diana Ross looks on. Other photos depict him standing with Mick Jagger and an unidentified woman whose face has been redacted, posing with actor Kevin Spacey, and swimming in a pool with Maxwell. Another image shows Clinton on a plane with his arm around a woman in a white camisole, her identity obscured, while a separate photo places him in a hot tub next to another unidentified woman.
After the images surfaced, Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña issued a statement dismissing the release as an effort by the Trump administration to distract from future disclosures, characterizing the photos as “grainy 20-plus-year-old” images. Ureña later followed up with a call for the “complete” release of all Epstein-related files.
Honig, however, said that response falls flat. Speaking Monday night with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt, he said attacking the Justice Department does not address the obvious questions raised by the photos themselves.
“I did find the statement from the Clinton camp to be fairly unconvincing,” Honig said. He added that while additional documents may come out, they will not erase what is already visible. “I want to see what those documents are going to say about the photographs we all saw of Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell and a woman whose identity is blacked out in a pool at night,” he said. “What is Bill Clinton going to say about that?”
Honig said similar questions apply to images showing Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose face was redacted. Suggesting the DOJ is covering for Trump, Honig said, does not answer the substance of those concerns. While he noted there is no specific evidence Clinton committed a crime, Honig stressed that the former president “can’t hide from what’s in those photos.”
Hunt then turned to Epstein’s controversial plea deal in Florida and whether earlier interactions could be viewed differently. Honig responded that the way the DOJ released the files has created confusion by stripping them of context.
“These files are completely out of context,” Honig said, emphasizing that key details like where and when the photos were taken remain unclear. He argued timing is critical, pointing to 2007 and 2008 as a major dividing line in the Epstein saga.
That period marks when Epstein was prosecuted in Florida and received what Honig called a “ridiculously, inexcusably soft plea deal” for soliciting a minor. From that point on, Honig said, anyone who continued associating with Epstein faces far more serious questions than those who cut ties before his crimes became widely known.
As more files are expected to be released, Honig’s comments reflect growing skepticism that calls for transparency alone will be enough to put the Epstein controversy to rest, especially for those whose images now speak louder than carefully worded statements.
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