## Bill Clinton spokesperson says White House is using him as scapegoat after Epstein files release

Authored by theguardian.com

A spokesperson for Bill Clinton accused the White House late on Friday of using him as a scapegoat after pictures of the former president with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as with a young woman in a pool, were included as part of congressionally ordered release of government files.

“The White House hasn’t been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,” the spokesperson said in a statement on X.

So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton.

Clinton has long maintained that he cut ties with Epstein around 2005, before the disgraced financier plead guilty to solicitation of a minor in Florida.

The picture of Clinton in a swimming pool was later posted on X by the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, with the caption “Oh my!”

Little did he know… ,” Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, posted to X. Epstein visited the White House at least 17 times during the early years of Clinton’s presidency, according to White House visitor records cited in news reports.

The justice department photo dump comes as both Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and presidential candidate, are scheduled to give depositions to the House oversight committee over their ties to Epstein. »

### China Draws Iranian Ire Over UAE Islands Claim

Authored by rferl.org

China has rattled Tehran by again backing the United Arab Emirates’s claim over three Persian Gulf islands controlled by Iran.

In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei criticized the UAE’s “insistence on misusing every diplomatic delegation’s visit” to raise claims about the three islands.

While Baqaei didn't criticize China, Iranian media have been more explicit in their assessment of Beijing's statement. »

### DOJ Likely Pulled Photo of Trump from Released Epstein Files

Authored by democracydocket.com

Photos of Donald Trump in a desk drawer from a entry originally included in the DOJ’s initial Epstein files release.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) appears to have pulled a photo containing images of President Donald Trump from the thousands of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein it released Friday.

Senior DOJ and White House officials also appeared to use the release to draw attention to former President Bill Clinton’s appearance in the Epstein files. »

### Shooting hares in England to be banned for most of the year

Authored by theguardian.com

Shooting hares in England will be banned for most of the year as part of sweeping changes to animal welfare law.

Labour sources said their polling showed 85% of the public believed there was a moral duty to protect animal welfare.

George Eustice, the former Conservative environment secretary, tried while in post to implement a close season for hares but was blocked by No 10. »

### Congressmen behind Epstein files law draft articles of impeachment for AG Bondi

Authored by wtkr.com

The co-sponsors of a law intended to force the Justice Department to release all investigative materials related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein say they are drafting articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Khanna warned that other Justice Department officials could also face legal consequences if they played a role in withholding records related to Epstein.

RELATED STORY | Attorney of Epstein victim speaks out after DOJ files released. »

## In pictures

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#### Top DOJ official denies there's any effort to redact mentions of President Trump from Epstein files

#### Dramatic day as Democrats and Republicans threaten impeachment over Epstein files