How many times did Bill Clinton fly on Epstein's plane according to logs?

1. The competing claims that drive confusion — why numbers range from mid‑teens to high‑twenties

Published analyses report multiple, conflicting tallies of Clinton’s presence on Epstein’s jets, with sources asserting 17, 26, or 27 logged appearances. One report frames the figure as “at least 17 times” concentrated in 2002–2003 and lists international destinations and travel companions tied to those flights, sometimes noting the absence of Secret Service on certain legs ^[1]. Other summaries extract 26 name appearances tied to six trips between February 9, 2002 and November 4, 2003, while yet another reference consolidates up to 27 entries in the flight records—each outlet treating the raw logs differently, which produces the spread in totals ^{[3] [4] [5]}.

2. The timelines and record types that matter — trips, legs, and name listings

The discrepancies stem from how analysts interpret the released records: some count individual flight legs or name entries, others aggregate round‑trip itineraries as single “trips.” The logs cited by several analyses concentrate on 2001–2003, with the most detailed breakdowns focusing on 2002–2003 specifically, and reference high‑profile passengers and international stops including China, Morocco, Siberia and others. These timeline constraints matter because they shape whether repeated appearances on multi‑leg itineraries are tallied as separate flights or grouped, producing either the higher counts in the mid‑20s or the lower “four trips” claim offered by Clinton’s spokesperson ^{[1] [3] [6]}.

3. The administration’s counterpoint — four trips and official accompaniment

Clinton’s office supplied an alternative framing: they say the former president took four distinct trips on Epstein’s airplane in 2002 and 2003, and that he was accompanied by staff, foundation supporters, and Secret Service agents on all legs of those journeys. That explanation asserts that multiple logged legs with Clinton’s name correspond to those four trips rather than dozens of separate, independent flights. The office’s statement challenges higher tabulations by shifting the analytic focus from raw name entries to grouped itineraries and by emphasizing official security and staff presence as routine travel protocol ^{[2] [6]}.

4. What the logs and reporting do and do not show — evidence gaps and agreed facts

Analyses of the released flight logs consistently show Clinton’s name appears in Epstein aircraft records; they diverge on how to convert those entries into counts. Across reports there is no consensus that the logs prove visits to Epstein’s private island or illicit conduct by Clinton; fact‑check summaries explicitly reject claims that Clinton visited the island dozens of times, and note the absence of corroborating evidence for some public assertions. The logs do present international destinations and passenger lists, but they do not, by themselves, resolve whether a name entry equals an entire trip, a single leg, or reflects other administrative notations ^{[3] [7] [6]}.

5. How methodological choices explain the range — counting logic and interpretive agendas

Different outlets adopt distinct counting methodologies: some report raw name entries as flight counts, others track itineraries and still others focus on documented trips corroborated by spokespeople. Those methodological choices map onto interpretive frames—counting every logged leg produces higher figures, while grouping legs into trips yields lower totals and aligns with the official four‑trip narrative. Analysts and spokespeople emphasize complementary facts—logs, travel companions, and Secret Service presence—yet those emphases reflect different priorities: transparency about flight frequency versus context about official travel arrangements ^{[5] [2] [1]}.

6. The practical bottom line — what is settled and what remains unsettled

What is settled: Clinton’s name appears multiple times in Epstein flight logs concentrated in the early 2000s, and published tallies report 17, 26, or 27 entries depending on counting method. What remains unsettled is the correct way to translate those entries into meaningful counts of trips, and whether any particular log entry signifies unsupervised or illicit activity; Clinton’s office maintains a four‑trip summary with staff and Secret Service present. Resolving the discrepancy requires access to the original logs, clear definitions of “flight” versus “leg,” and corroborating operational records—needful steps before any definitive, single‑number answer can be established ^{[1] [2] [3] [6]}.