Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a pointed rebuke of President Donald Trump on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, alleging his administration is engaged in a “cover-up” involving records linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Her remarks came as she and her husband prepare for congressional testimony later this month.
“Get the files out. They are slow-walking it,” Clinton told the BBC in an interview recorded in Berlin. “They are redacting the names of men who are in it. They are stonewalling legitimate requests from members of Congress.”
Clinton pointed to legislation requiring the full disclosure of documents tied to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. “What we’re seeing, I think it’s fair to say, is an ongoing cover-up by the Trump Administration,” she said.
Her strong comments come just before her closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 26. Former President Bill Clinton is slated to appear the following day. The pair had initially declined to testify, prompting the committee on Jan. 21 to advance contempt recommendations. They changed course on Feb. 2, shortly before the House was set to move ahead with contempt actions.
Neither Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. In January, both Clintons submitted sworn statements detailing their limited contacts with Epstein and Maxwell, who is serving a 20‑year sentence for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors.
Clinton also criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi, who testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 11 during a lengthy and contentious session. Clinton described Bondi’s appearance as “quite a scene,” alleging Bondi “refused to answer questions, diverted attention away from the matter at hand, and refused to look at the survivors.” Several Epstein survivors were present, and Democrats urged Bondi to turn toward them and apologize — which she did not do.
The Justice Department released more than three million documents, photographs, and videos from its Epstein investigation on Jan. 30, following enactment of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Still, some lawmakers argue the disclosure is incomplete. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a co-author of the law, has called for internal memos and prosecution-related notes to be made public as well.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday evening, President Trump dismissed Clinton’s allegations. “I have nothing to hide, I have been exonerated, I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” Trump said, adding of the Clintons: “They’re getting pulled in and that’s their problem.”
Clinton argued that she and her husband are being used as political distractions. She said officials are trying to draw them into the controversy to divert attention from President Trump, calling the tactic obvious.
The former secretary of state told the BBC she does not recall ever meeting Epstein, though she noted she had seen Maxwell “on a few occasions” through the Clinton Global Initiative. Bill Clinton has said Epstein offered his private jet for charity travel in 2002 and 2003, but that he cut ties more than two decades ago.
When asked if former Prince Andrew should testify before Congress about his connection to Epstein, Clinton responded: “I think everybody should testify who is asked to testify. I just want it to be fair. I want everybody treated the same way.”
Andrew settled a lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre in February 2022 without admitting fault. Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most well‑known accusers, died by suicide in April 2025 at age 41.
The Clintons have repeatedly pushed for their testimony to be held publicly rather than behind closed doors. “We will show up but we think it would be better to have it in public,” Clinton said. “We think sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has indicated that public testimony might be possible after the private interviews conclude. If Bill Clinton appears as planned, he would be the first former U.S. president to testify before a congressional committee since Gerald Ford in 1974 regarding his pardon of Richard Nixon.
Clinton cautioned that lawmakers likely won’t “like what I have to say” during her deposition. “I have very strong opinions about what it is they’re hiding and who they are protecting,” she said, reiterating accusations that the Trump administration redacted names from the released files.