Epstein files: Bill Clinton seen lying back in jacuzzi and smiling with financier

Former US president Bill Clinton has appeared in multiple photographs released by the US Department of Justice from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein - including one with Michael Jackson

Bill Clinton is seen reclining in a jacuzzi and putting his arms around Jeffrey Epstein in some of thousands of new files released by the US Department of Justice tonight.

Another picture shows the former US president posing with Michael Jackson. Clinton has previously played down his relationship with Epstein, acknowledging that he travelled on Epstein’s private jet but saying through a spokesperson that he had no knowledge of the late financier’s crimes.

A different picture from the files shows him with Epstein's girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell at Winston Churchill’s War Rooms with Kevin Spacey and others. The image shows the group standing by a desk in the war cabinet room, where Churchill directed Britain’s World War II operations.

It is not known when or where the pictures featuring Clinton in a jacuzzi and posing with Epstein were taken. Being mentioned or pictured in the released documents does not imply wrongdoing, and there is no suggestion that Mr Clinton was involved in or had knowledge of anything illegal.

Files relating to the disgraced paedophile financier Epstein were published on the department’s website to a page titled “Epstein Library” at about 9pm tonight.

But the files will not be released in their entirety before the legal deadline, the US deputy attorney general said.

Todd Blanche said “several hundred thousand” documents from the so-called “Epstein files” will be released on Friday, but claimed the need to protect the sex offender’s victims meant thousands more would be released over the coming weeks.

US President Donald Trump signed the legislation last month to ensure the release of the files, despite previously claiming the issue was a “Democrat hoax”.

Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.