CNN's senior legal analyst Elie Honig stated on Monday that former President Bill Clinton cannot evade the implications of photographs released by the U.S. Department of Justice. The images show Clinton with convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and an unidentified woman.
Clinton Camp Demands Full Disclosure
In response to the photo release, a spokesman for Clinton, Angel Ureña, issued a statement on social media suggesting the Justice Department is protecting someone. "We do not know whom, what or why," Ureña wrote, adding that Clinton requires no such protection. The statement demanded the immediate release of any remaining images involving the former president.
Honig later addressed this demand during an appearance on CNN's "The Source" with guest host Kasie Hunt. He expressed skepticism about the Clinton team's response. "I did find the statement from the Clinton camp to be fairly unconvincing," Honig remarked. He emphasized that the statement fails to address the serious questions raised by the photographs themselves.
The Lingering Questions from the Epstein Files
The controversial photos are part of a broader document dump compelled by the new Epstein Files Transparency Act. Passed by Congress last month, the law forced the DOJ to make its Epstein records public within 30 days. Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges; his death was ruled a suicide.
Honig pointed to a critical unknown: the timing and location of the photos. "We don't know exactly [when] they were taken. Very importantly, we don't know where they were taken," he told Hunt. He highlighted a key cutoff period around 2007-2008, when Epstein was prosecuted in Florida for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution.
Epstein ultimately received a controversial plea deal, facilitated by then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, and served 18 months in a lenient arrangement. "So people who are still cavorting with Jeffrey Epstein after that... have a very different set of questions to answer," Honig concluded, underscoring the importance of when Clinton's association was documented.
A Transparency Debate Amid Political Tensions
The release has ignited a debate over the DOJ's transparency and potential political motivations. Honig noted the Clinton statement's insinuation that the DOJ could be covering for former President Donald Trump, who has labeled the Epstein case a Democratic "hoax." "Maybe. Maybe not. We don't know that for sure," Honig said regarding that theory.
However, he reiterated that the core issue remains unanswered by Clinton's team. "There's no evidence, specifically, that he committed a crime — but he can't hide from what's in those photos," Honig stated, referring to the image of Clinton, Maxwell, and a redacted woman in a pool at night. The ongoing release of files ensures this high-profile connection will remain under intense public and legal scrutiny.
