How Ghislaine Maxwell brought Bill Clinton into Epstein's orbit

Newly released Department of Justice images and emails outline how bill clinton came into the orbit of Jeffrey Epstein through sustained contact nurtured by Ghislaine Maxwell. The material — including photos, flight logs and correspondence — is expected to play a central part in tough questioning by a Republican-led congressional committee on Friday.

Bill Clinton's images and emails

The released files include a night-time photo of Bill Clinton swimming alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, a backstage image showing him smiling at a Rolling Stones concert in Hong Kong with Jeffrey Epstein, and a third undated snap of the former president reclining in a hot tub beside someone whose face has been blacked out. The Department of Justice materials provide new visual and documentary clues about the extent of the relationship between the men.

Maxwell's role and convictions

Ghislaine Maxwell, identified in the documents as a British socialite, is now convicted of sex trafficking. Epstein is described in the context as the late financier and now globally notorious sex offender. The newly released material portrays Maxwell working behind the scenes to nurture a connection between the two men.

Correspondence with Doug Band

There are no direct messages between Clinton and Epstein in the emails reviewed, but much of the correspondence centers on Maxwell and Clinton's top aide, Doug Band. Maxwell's emails with Band between 2002 and 2004 reveal a cosy relationship rife with flattery and sexual innuendo. Band called Maxwell his "social matchmaker" and "lover, " and Maxwell complimented his social and physical prowess. The exchanges help explain the former president's proximity to Epstein and show how keen people working on behalf of both men were to maintain that connection. The records show no suggestion of wrongdoing by Band.

Flights, meetings and the Clinton Foundation

Documents indicate Maxwell and Band set up meetings for the Clinton Global Initiative and were involved in arranging Clinton's flights on Epstein's private jet. Flight logs show he flew on the plane at least 24 times. Clinton's spokesperson said the former president took trips on the plane including "stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation. " The flight logs, documents and correspondence corroborate the former president's assertions that he cut off contact with Epstein well before Epstein was indicted in 2006 and before pleading guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Early-2000s overlap and philanthropy

The material paints a picture of how the worlds of the two men collided in the early 2000s, when Clinton was redefining himself as an ex-president on a philanthropic mission and seeking wealthy donors to the Clinton Foundation and, later, to the Clinton Global Initiative. At that time Epstein was a money manager and jet-setting financier who, with his girlfriend Maxwell, was hobnobbing with the world's wealthiest from Buckingham Palace to Palm Beach and collecting powerful friends along the way.

Political fallout and other demands

The newly released records are likely to make Clinton the latest powerful figure to face scrutiny for association with Epstein as the Republican-led committee prepares to question him on Friday. Separately, Congressman Robert Garcia reiterated calls for President Trump to testify under oath before the Department of Justice committee as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

The files do not implicate Clinton in any wrongdoing: he has not been accused of misconduct by Epstein's victims who have come forward so far, and there is no proof he knew of Epstein's crimes. Clinton's spokesperson said the photos are decades old and that Clinton had stopped associating with Epstein before his crimes came to light. Hillary Clinton, then a US senator from New York, did not accompany her husband on trips with Epstein and unclear in the provided context.

As the documents move into public questioning, the images, flight logs and emails are set to shape both the committee's lines of inquiry and public attention in the coming days.