Americast — Why are Bill and Hillary Clinton testifying over Epstein?
Date: February 4, 2026
Hosts: Sarah Rainsford, Anthony Zurcher, Marianna Spring (BBC News)
Episode Theme: Unpacking why Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before Congress regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, following the release of millions of Epstein-related documents, and examining the broader implications for US politics and conspiracy theories.
Episode Overview
This episode focuses on the ongoing fallout from the release of the "Epstein files"—millions of documents detailing Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with powerful figures. The discussion centers on the Clintons’ forthcoming testimonies before Congress, contextualizes these developments within US political and social discourse, and examines the interplay between conspiracy theories, public perception, and the realities of legal investigations.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Bill and Hillary Clinton Called to Testify (04:00–04:59)
- Background: After prolonged reluctance and legal resistance, the Clintons have agreed to testify to a congressional committee investigating Epstein.
- Bill Clinton: Photographed and documented in Epstein's company on multiple occasions, but denies knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
- Hillary Clinton: No documented relationship with Epstein; her testimony is seen by hosts as a political move.
“I'm not sure why she's there except for the fact that Republicans love to grill Hillary Clinton. She's kind of still a villain in their eyes, so might as well get her up there and put the screws to her as well.” — Anthony Zurcher (04:46)
2. Political Calculations and Precedents (05:17–07:25)
- Testifying vs. Contempt: The Clintons reversed their refusal to avoid a contempt of Congress finding—a fate that previously befell Steve Bannon.
- Future Precedent: Their appearance could set expectations for former presidents and senior officials—potentially impacting figures like Donald Trump in the future.
3. Conspiracies, Facts, and Public Perception (07:42–10:42)
- Hillary’s History: Hillary Clinton has long been a target for far-right conspiracy theories (e.g., Pizzagate).
- Intersection with Epstein: The real horrors of the Epstein scandal lend credence to suspicions about powerful people abusing their positions, blurring lines between “conspiracy theory” and reality.
“There are so many conspiracy theories built around this idea of powerful people doing bad things... This is a real example…” — Marianna Spring (09:32)
4. What the Documents Do and Don’t Reveal (10:42–13:54)
- Salacious, Not Always Criminal: While the files point to icky, inappropriate relationships and arrangements, concrete evidence of criminality for most high-profile names remains absent.
- The released files confirm social and professional ties but lack prosecution-ready evidence.
- Notably absent: certain police reports, charging documents, or lists of co-conspirators.
5. The Broader Web: More Than Just the Clintons (13:05–13:54)
- Other High-Profile Connections: Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, Larry Summers, Howard Lutnick, and Donald Trump all feature in the files, but, again, claims of wrongdoing remain unsubstantiated.
- Public Scrutiny and Political Fallout: The files’ impact varies depending on the figure's public role or political prominence.
6. Justice and Investigation Gaps (15:09–16:01)
- Lack of Investigation: Little evidence suggests federal authorities have seriously investigated Epstein’s wider network or criminality.
- Transparency vs. Reality: Speculation persists that documents are being withheld to protect the powerful, fueling ongoing demands for full disclosure.
7. Social Media & Political Divide (17:58–19:45)
- Weaponizing the Files: Social media is awash with memes and selective outrage targeting disliked public figures, reflecting polarized interpretations.
- Ordinary Voters: This deluge likely deepens public disillusionment with elites and the political process.
“There is a chance that quite a lot of these people are just further sort of tarred with the brush of, ‘well, powerful people don’t care about us.’” — Marianna Spring (18:51)
8. Donald Trump’s Frustration and Response (20:58–22:18)
- Media Interaction: Pressed about Epstein links in his orbit, Trump downplays the files' significance, calls for the country to “get onto something else,” and expresses irritation at continued scrutiny.
“I think it’s really time for the country to get onto something else, really, you know, now that nothing came out about me…” — Donald Trump (22:13)
9. Victims’ Perspective and Congressional Pressure (24:50–25:59)
- Ongoing Advocacy: Survivors and key members of Congress (e.g., Thomas Massie, Ro Khanna) remain unsatisfied, citing missing documents, excessive redactions, and release delays.
“A lot of US survivors were really very unhappy… DOJ has violated all three of our requirements. Number one, many documents still haven’t been disclosed. Number two, the date set for release has long passed. And number three, the DOJ released the names of many of the survivors. And that’s not okay. We feel like they’re playing some games with us, but we’re not going to stop fighting.” — Lisa Phillips, Epstein survivor (25:23)
10. Redactions and Accusations of Cover-Up (26:14–29:26)
- Jamie Raskin’s Critique: Argues there’s a “full blown cover up” due to unreleased and heavily redacted documents.
“We are witnessing a full blown cover up.” — Jamie Raskin (26:47)
- Legal Context: The law now requires explanations for every redaction; Congress has yet to receive these justifications.
11. Conspiracy Theories: Closure is Elusive (29:19–30:22)
- Perpetual Suspicion: Even full disclosure would not satisfy everyone; the lack of conclusive evidence feeds assumptions of a deeper conspiracy.
“That’s the thing about conspiracy theories, right? The more there’s no evidence, the more they’re convinced the conspiracy is even bigger than we thought.” — Anthony Zurcher (29:19)
- Public Appetite: The explicit nature of some emails fuels ongoing public desire for further revelations and accountability.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Hillary being targeted:
“She's kind of still a villain in their eyes, so might as well get her up there and put the screws to her as well.”
— Anthony Zurcher (04:46) -
On the potential precedent:
“We hope this sets a precedent for future investigations.”
— Bill & Hillary Clinton’s strategy, paraphrased by Anthony Zurcher (05:17) -
On social media backlash:
“All the conspiracy theories come true.”
— Marianna Spring (09:32, referencing online memes) -
On the limitations of released records:
“None of it is evidence of criminality for these rich and powerful people. It just all is icky and in theory could have something criminal behind it, but no concrete evidence here.”
— Anthony Zurcher (10:42) -
Survivors’ critique of DOJ:
“DOJ has violated all three of our requirements…”
— Lisa Phillips (25:23) -
Jamie Raskin’s accusation:
“We are witnessing a full blown cover up.”
— Jamie Raskin (26:47)
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:00–04:59 | Clintons agree to testify after long resistance | | 07:42–10:42 | The line between conspiracy and reality in Epstein’s case | | 15:09–16:01 | Lack of investigation into wider Epstein network | | 18:51 | Social media’s effect on public perception | | 22:13 | Trump expresses desire to move on from Epstein topic | | 25:23 | Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips critiques DOJ’s process | | 26:47 | Jamie Raskin accuses government of “full blown cover up” | | 29:19 | Why conspiracy theories will likely persist |
Conclusion
The hosts agree that despite the Clinton testimony and document releases, the Epstein saga is far from over. The ongoing search for elusive “smoking guns,” political blame games, and persistent conspiracy theories guarantee that this story will continue to reverberate through US politics and media. As Sarah Rainsford puts it:
“Yes, Mr. President, we are still talking about Jeffrey Epstein.” (30:38)