Former President Bill Clinton has spoken out following the public release of numerous photos connected to the widely publicized Epstein files.

The latest cache of images—numbering in the hundreds of thousands—was disseminated by the Department of Justice this past Friday, December 19, in adherence to a congressional order.

Intriguingly, Donald Trump, despite his known associations with Jeffrey Epstein, was not present in these files. However, other prominent figures, including Bill Clinton, were repeatedly featured in the photos.

Clinton was pictured in scenarios that have fueled speculation. One particular image shows him alongside Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and a blurred unidentified woman beside a pool. This has sparked debates and conjecture from critics.

Clinton responded strongly to the photographs’ release, expressing his discontent through a spokesperson who criticized that the release was an attempt to cast Clinton as a “scapegoat.” A statement on X, previously known as Twitter, conveyed these sentiments.

“The White House hasn’t been concealing these documents just to unveil them late on a Friday to shield Bill Clinton,” the statement read. “This is about shielding their own interests from future fallout. They can reveal as many decade-old photos as they like, but it never was or will be about Bill Clinton.”

A photo that gained significant attention shows Clinton swimming with Maxwell and another woman in an underground pool, the latter of whom was obscured in the image. Additional photos depict Clinton dining with Epstein and famed musician Mick Jagger, as well as relaxing in a hot tub.

Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, posted the pool image on X, captioning it with “Oh my!” alongside a blushing emoji to emphasize her surprise.

It is crucial to highlight that, while numerous celebrities appear in these newly released photos, none of them are currently facing criminal accusations. The emergence of these files results from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which obliges the DOJ to release approximately 600,000 pages of edited documents, encompassing photos, videos, police documents, and early victim statements, all related to Epstein. This move aims to bring greater transparency to the case.

Clinton’s spokesperson, Angel Ureña, was not shy in his defense following the photo disclosure.

“There are two kinds of individuals involved,” he noted. “One group cut off Epstein before his wrongdoings were known. The other maintained ties afterward. We belong to the first group.”

“No postponement by those in the second group will alter that fact. The public, particularly those with MAGA affiliations, seek answers, not scapegoats,” he added with emphasis.

According to reports from The Guardian, Clinton has previously claimed that his association with Epstein ended in 2005, long before Epstein’s conviction in Florida for soliciting a minor.