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Clinton and Trump Duel Over Epstein File Release as DOJ Withholds Documents

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  • Hillary Clinton speaks to the BBC on 16 February 2026 and Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One while flying from Palm Beach International Airport on February 16, 2026 en route to Washington, DC.
    Hillary Clinton speaks to the BBC on 16 February 2026 and Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One while flying from Palm Beach International Airport on February 16, 2026 en route to Washington, DC.
    Image: Newsweek
    Hillary Clinton speaks to the BBC on 16 February 2026 and Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One while flying from Palm Beach International Airport on February 16, 2026 en route to Washington, DC. Source Full size
  • Hillary Clinton speaks to the BBC on 16 February 2026 and Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One while flying from Palm Beach International Airport on February 16, 2026 en route to Washington, DC.
    Hillary Clinton speaks to the BBC on 16 February 2026 and Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One while flying from Palm Beach International Airport on February 16, 2026 en route to Washington, DC.
    Image: Newsweek
    Hillary Clinton speaks to the BBC on 16 February 2026 and Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One while flying from Palm Beach International Airport on February 16, 2026 en route to Washington, DC. Source Full size

Clinton Accuses Administration of Deliberate Delay Hillary Clinton told the BBC in Berlin on Feb. 17 that the Justice Department is “slow‑walking” the release of Epstein‑related files and labeled the handling a cover‑up, urging a full public disclosure of every relevant document [1]. She said congressional scrutiny is intensifying and that the administration’s partial releases are insufficient [1]. The Justice Department has already released millions of pages under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but some material remains redacted, prompting bipartisan calls for broader disclosure [1].

White House Counters with Claim of Thousands Released White House spokesperson told the BBC the administration has already released thousands of pages and fully cooperated with the House Oversight subpoena [1]. President Donald Trump, speaking on Air Force One, declared he is “totally exonerated” by the files, denied any connection to Jeffrey Epstein, and asserted his actions have done more for victims than Democratic opponents [1]. The administration emphasizes that its releases exceed what Democrats have achieved [1].

Congressional Testimony Avoids Contempt Vote Hillary and former President Bill Clinton agreed to appear before the House Oversight Committee, leading to the withdrawal of a planned contempt of Congress vote [1]. Their upcoming testimony will be the first time a former president testifies before a congressional panel since the 1980s [1]. The hearings are set against a backdrop of heightened partisan conflict over the file releases [1].

Bipartisan Pressure Grows Over Redacted Material Despite the release of millions of documents, the DOJ continues to withhold certain pages, fueling demands from both parties for complete transparency [1]. The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates disclosure, yet redactions persist, raising questions about the scope of the withheld information [1]. The dispute intensifies political tension as the congressional hearing approaches [1].

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Timeline

Nov 19, 2025 – President Trump signs the Epstein Files Transparency Act, mandating the Justice Department to publish all unclassified Epstein‑related records in a searchable, downloadable format within 30 days and prohibiting redactions that merely protect public‑figure reputations [25][30].

Dec 16, 2025 – The Act sets a firm deadline of Dec 19, 2025 for the DOJ to release the files, while allowing victim‑privacy redactions and withholding only for active investigations [25][30].

Dec 18, 2025 – Federal judges begin unsealing previously sealed Epstein material, and the House Oversight Committee posts subpoenaed files that include emails mentioning Trump; Republicans respond by releasing additional estate documents, sparking a partisan fight over the scope of disclosure [29].

Dec 19, 2025 – The DOJ launches the first tranche of the Epstein release, posting roughly 4,000 files (photos, call logs, grand‑jury testimony) with extensive redactions; the batch features never‑before‑seen photographs of Bill Clinton with Epstein and notes that “more documents will follow” [27][28][20][21][22][23][24].

Dec 20, 2025 – The DOJ’s public webpage loses 16 items, including a photo of Donald Trump beside Epstein and Melania Trump; the agency says the materials remain under “abundance of caution” review and does not explain the disappearance [17][26].

Dec 21, 2025 – After victims raise concerns, the DOJ temporarily removes a Trump photograph, then reinstates it following a review; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stresses the action is unrelated to the president and was done “out of an abundance of caution” [5].

Dec 22, 2025 – Rep. Thomas Massie threatens to pursue inherent contempt against Attorney General Pam Bondi to force full compliance, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announces a resolution to pressure the DOJ when the Senate reconvenes in January [4][15].

Dec 24, 2025 – DOJ attorneys begin reviewing over 1 million newly identified Epstein documents, acknowledging that the massive volume will likely require several more weeks before any additional release [13]; simultaneously, journalists expose a botched redaction glitch traced to a 2020 Virgin Islands racketeering case, revealing hidden allegations about attorney Darren Indyke [14].

Dec 25, 2025 – The DOJ states it may need additional weeks after uncovering more than a million further Epstein‑related records, pushing the timeline beyond the congressional deadline and prompting 12 senators to request an independent Inspector General audit [11][12].

Jan 30, 2026 – The DOJ publishes over 3 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, fulfilling the statutory duty; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche declares the department’s statutory review is complete after examining roughly 6 million pages [10][8].

Jan 31, 2026 – The release includes an FBI tip list of unverified Trump allegations, a draft 2000s indictment naming unnamed co‑conspirators, and emails showing Elon Musk coordinating travel with Epstein; Blanche admits “mistakes are inevitable” and urges victims to report any remaining errors [9][10].

Feb 1, 2026 – Blanche tells This Week that the review of over 6 million pages is finished, with only a tiny fraction (≈0.001 %) still under protective order; he invites lawmakers to schedule on‑site visits to view unredacted material [8].

Feb 2, 2026 – The DOJ’s review is declared over as the agency continues staged disclosures that began in Feb 2025; survivors and advocates condemn lingering redactions, with Gloria Allred calling the process “an absolute mess” and Brad Edwards warning the exposure causes “irreparable” harm [7][1].

Feb 3, 2026 – Victims’ attorneys Brittany Henderson and Brad Edwards file an urgent letter to Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer demanding immediate judicial intervention to force removal of millions of still‑unredacted pages; they cite nearly 100 survivor‑identifying errors, including a minor’s name appearing 20 times in one file [6][1].

Feb 4, 2026 – The DOJ removes thousands of flagged documents after victims report that unredacted emails and nude photos expose their identities; the department attributes the breach to “technical or human error,” confirms removal of all flagged pages, and notes a congressional hearing is cancelled following the settlement [2][6].

Feb 5, 2026 – Unredacted nude images and medical scans remain accessible online despite DOJ warnings; victim‑rights lawyer Brad Edwards calls the damage “irreparable,” and survivor Ashley Rubright describes the exposure as “a huge violation” of the victims’ most vulnerable moments [1][6].

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