The claim that Bill Clinton visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, often referred to as “Epstein Island,” has been a persistent topic in discussions about Epstein’s activities. However, the evidence surrounding these allegations is mixed and heavily disputed, with no definitive proof confirming Clinton’s presence on the island. Below, I’ll break down what is known based on available information, addressing both the allegations and Clinton’s denials, while also noting the context of similar claims made about other public figures, including Donald Trump’s statement, “I never went to that island.”
Bill Clinton and Epstein Island Allegations
- Allegations of Clinton’s Visits:
- Virginia Giuffre’s Claims: Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a key accuser in the Epstein case, alleged in a 2011 interview with the Daily Mail that she met Clinton on Little St. James and that Ghislaine Maxwell flew him there via helicopter. However, in a later deposition, Giuffre clarified that she did not personally witness Clinton on the island and that her statement was based on what Maxwell told her. She also denied telling the Daily Mail that she was in a helicopter with Clinton flown by Maxwell. Maxwell herself called the claim “100 percent false” in her deposition.
- Doug Band’s Claim: In 2020, Doug Band, a former aide to Clinton, told Vanity Fair that Clinton visited Little St. James in January 2003. This claim has not been corroborated by other evidence, and Clinton’s team has disputed it, noting Band’s acrimonious fallout with the Clintons.
- Sarah Ransome’s Allegations: Another accuser, Sarah Ransome, claimed in 2016 emails to a New York Post reporter that she had evidence implicating Clinton and others, but she later retracted those claims, stating she wanted to “walk away” from them. These allegations were deemed discredited and were not published.
- Flight Logs: Clinton is documented to have flown on Epstein’s private plane, the “Lolita Express,” multiple times, including trips in 2002 and 2003 for Clinton Foundation work, such as a tour of Africa with notable figures like Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker. However, flight logs do not show Clinton traveling to Little St. James.
- Clinton’s Denials:
- Clinton has consistently denied visiting Little St. James, Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico, or his Florida residence. His spokesperson, Angel Ureña, reiterated in 2019 and subsequent statements that Clinton had not spoken to Epstein in over a decade before Epstein’s 2019 arrest and had no knowledge of his crimes.
- In his memoir Citizen: My Life After the White House (released November 2024), Clinton expressed regret for knowing Epstein, stating he only met him twice—once in Harlem and once at Epstein’s New York residence—and discussed only politics and economics. He emphasized, “I never visited his island,” and noted that traveling on Epstein’s plane “was not worth the years of questioning afterward.”
- A statement from former FBI Director Louis Freeh, included in unsealed court documents, also supports Clinton’s claim that he never visited the island.
- Maxwell’s lawyer disputed a media report suggesting Clinton traveled to the island shortly after leaving office in 2001, noting that Secret Service logs, required for a former president’s travel, would have documented such a trip if it occurred.
- Context of Allegations:
- The unsealed court documents from Virginia Giuffre’s 2015 defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell mention Clinton over 50 times, but they contain no direct allegations of wrongdoing. Johanna Sjoberg, another accuser, testified that Epstein once remarked, “Clinton likes them young,” referring to girls, but she never met Clinton or saw him on the island.
- Claims about Clinton’s visits often stem from his documented association with Epstein, including flights on Epstein’s plane and meetings in the 1990s and early 2000s, such as at the White House and a Clinton Foundation trip. However, these interactions occurred before Epstein’s 2005 criminal investigation.
- Social media posts, such as those on X, have amplified unverified claims, with some alleging Clinton visited the island “28 times” or was a frequent guest. These claims, including one from Donald Trump in 2025, lack supporting evidence from flight logs or other records.
Donald Trump’s Claim: “I Never Went to That Island”
- Trump’s Denials:
- In July 2025, Trump stated, “I never went to the island,” referring to Little St. James, while speaking to reporters. He also claimed in a September 2024 interview with Lex Fridman that he “never went to his island, fortunately.”
- Trump has acknowledged a 15-year friendship with Epstein, including attending parties together at Mar-a-Lago and flying on Epstein’s private jet at least seven times in the 1990s, primarily between Palm Beach and New York. However, flight logs do not indicate trips to Little St. James.
- By 2007, Trump reportedly banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for inappropriate behavior toward young women, according to court documents filed by attorney Bradley Edwards, though Edwards later noted this was an unconfirmed rumor.
- Allegations Against Trump:
- No direct evidence places Trump on Little St. James. Johanna Sjoberg testified that Epstein’s plane once diverted to Atlantic City, where Epstein said he would “call up Trump” to visit a casino, but she did not allege wrongdoing by Trump.
- Virginia Giuffre, in a 2016 deposition, claimed that prominent men who socialized with Epstein “would have to be blind” not to know about his activities, but she did not specifically accuse Trump of visiting the island or engaging in criminal behavior.
- Trump’s name appears in Epstein’s “black book” and in court documents, but being named does not imply wrongdoing.
- Trump’s Comments on Clinton:
- Trump has repeatedly pointed to Clinton’s association with Epstein, notably in 2019, when he called for an investigation into whether Clinton visited the island, and in 2025, when he claimed Clinton went there “28 times.” These statements lack corroboration from flight logs or other evidence.
- In 2019, Trump also retweeted a post suggesting Clinton was connected to Epstein’s death, and in 2020, he speculated about whether Epstein’s death was suicide or murder, without providing evidence.
Critical Analysis
- Lack of Conclusive Evidence: Despite extensive court documents, flight logs, and depositions, there is no definitive evidence—such as flight records, photographs, or corroborated witness testimony—placing Bill Clinton on Little St. James. The allegations primarily stem from Giuffre’s retracted claim, Band’s uncorroborated statement, and Ransome’s discredited emails.
- Clinton’s Association with Epstein: Clinton’s documented ties to Epstein, including plane trips and meetings, fuel speculation, but these occurred before Epstein’s 2005 investigation. The absence of Secret Service logs or flight records to the island supports Clinton’s denials.
- Trump’s Denials and Deflections: Trump’s claim that he never visited the island aligns with available evidence, as no records place him there. His focus on Clinton’s alleged visits appears to be a deflection, especially given his own documented ties to Epstein, including social events and plane trips. The “28 times” claim is unsupported and seems to exaggerate for political effect.
- Unreliable Sources: Social media posts on X and some media reports amplify unverified claims, such as the “28 times” figure or fabricated stories about Clinton’s arrest. These should be treated as inconclusive without primary evidence.
Conclusion
Bill Clinton has consistently denied visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s Little St. James Island, and no conclusive evidence, such as flight logs or corroborated testimony, confirms the allegations. Claims from Virginia Giuffre and Doug Band are either retracted or uncorroborated, and discredited allegations from Sarah Ransome add no weight. Donald Trump’s claim that he “never went to that island” is supported by the lack of evidence placing him there, though his allegations about Clinton’s visits lack substantiation. The Epstein case remains a complex web of associations, but assertions about specific visits to Little St. James require more than hearsay to be considered factual.
If you’d like me to dig deeper into specific documents, flight logs, or other aspects of this case, or if you want to explore related claims about other figures, let me know!