'People are being smeared': Trump explodes over Epstein files, defends Clinton, others

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the release of photographs and records could destroy the reputations of individuals who “innocently met” Epstein, despite having no involvement in his crimes.

His remarks marked his first public comments since the US Justice Department began releasing the Epstein-related materials last Friday under a congressional mandate.

Trump expressed particular sympathy for prominent Democrats whose past associations with Epstein have resurfaced.

Referring to former president Bill Clinton, whose images appeared in the initial batch of files, Trump said he disliked seeing such photographs circulated publicly.

He added that while Clinton could handle scrutiny, others facing exposure may not deserve similar suspicion.

“Everybody was friendly with this guy,” Trump said, suggesting Epstein was a familiar presence in elite social circles.

He warned that individuals such as bankers, lawyers, and academics could suffer lasting reputational harm simply for appearing in photos or attending events where Epstein was present.

Trump also cited former US Treasury Secretary and Harvard professor Larry Summers, who stepped back from public roles after past email exchanges with Epstein emerged.

According to Trump, such cases illustrate how selective disclosures can unfairly cast doubt on people without substantiated wrongdoing.

The president further claimed that the renewed focus on Epstein was being used to distract from what he described as Republican policy successes, arguing that questions about Epstein continued to dominate despite other major developments.

Trump has previously dismissed the Epstein controversy as exaggerated and politically motivated.

The controversy intensified after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by Trump and required the full release of Epstein-related records.

However, only one tranche of documents has been released so far, prompting frustration among lawmakers and survivors of Epstein’s abuse, who are demanding complete transparency.

Responding to the developments, Clinton’s spokesperson Angel Urena urged the Justice Department to release any remaining materials that reference the former president.

Urena warned that partial disclosures were fuelling suspicion and creating misleading impressions of wrongdoing, despite individuals having been previously cleared.

Jeffrey Epstein, a powerful financier with deep political and business connections, died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, in a death officially ruled a suicide.

The staggered release of files tied to his network continues to spark political fallout and public debate over accountability, transparency, and reputational harm.