Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is once again drawing attention to the relationship between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that Moscow may possess compromising material involving Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In remarks circulated Sunday, October 25, Clinton claimed that Putin could be withholding photographs, videos or other information about Trump, potentially using the material as leverage over the president.
The comments were highlighted in a social media post by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., who shared a quotation attributing the allegations to Clinton.
“I continue to believe that Putin has things on Trump,” Clinton said in the circulated remarks.
“I continue to believe that he is holding photos, videos, whatever it might be.”
Clinton specifically pointed to Trump’s opposition to releasing Epstein-related records as part of her reasoning.
“It’s just how strongly Trump has fought against the release of the Epstein files,” she said.
The former Democratic presidential nominee suggested that the eventual disclosure of those records could prove politically damaging to Trump.
“And when we finally see all the Epstein files, I think even the people who supported Trump are going to be shocked by what it shows about Trump,” she continued.
Clinton went further, speculating that Putin could be using undisclosed information to exert influence over the president.
“So honestly, I think it’s, you know, wannabe dictator, it is money, money, money, and it is, you know, ‘let’s keep Putin happy so he doesn’t dump what he has on me.’”
The allegations represent Clinton’s personal assessment rather than an established finding.
The material circulated by Whitehouse did not include documents, photographs, recordings or other evidence demonstrating that Putin possesses compromising information about Trump.
It also did not establish that any Epstein-related records contain evidence of wrongdoing by the president.
The latest remarks revive a political controversy that has surrounded Trump for years, particularly regarding his relationship with Russia and questions about Epstein’s connections to prominent figures.
Clinton herself was previously confronted with theories surrounding Epstein’s death during a 2019 appearance on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”
At the time, comedian Trevor Noah jokingly asked the former secretary of state how she had managed to kill Epstein while supposedly wielding enormous power outside elected office.
“I have to ask you a question that has been plaguing me for a while: How did you kill Jeffrey Epstein?” Noah asked during the October 2019 interview.
The question prompted laughter from Clinton and the studio audience.
Noah continued by joking about allegations that Clinton was responsible for numerous political scandals despite losing the 2016 presidential election.
“Because you’re not in power, but you have all the power,” he said.
He eventually asked Clinton what it felt like to serve as a political villain for conservatives.
“Well, it’s a constant surprise to me,” Clinton responded.
She dismissed the conspiracy theories circulating about her as ridiculous and criticized their widespread distribution online.
The exchange took place months after Epstein was found dead in a Manhattan federal jail cell on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
New York City’s medical examiner ruled his death a suicide by hanging.
However, forensic pathologist Michael Baden, who was retained by Epstein’s brother, publicly disputed the conclusion, saying the autopsy findings were more consistent with homicide, per the New York Post.
Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson rejected Baden’s interpretation and maintained the official suicide determination.
The dispute contributed to widespread speculation surrounding Epstein’s death, including unsupported accusations involving the Clinton family.
Seven years later, Epstein remains a subject of political controversy, with Clinton now raising questions about whether undisclosed records could reveal damaging information about Trump.
Her latest comments offer no independently verified evidence of Russian blackmail or criminal wrongdoing by the president.
Nevertheless, the remarks have brought renewed attention to the ongoing debate over the Epstein files and the political allegations surrounding their contents.
