Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Which specific witnesses have placed Bill Clinton on Epstein's Little Saint James and what did each say?
Executive summary
Multiple witnesses and documents have been cited over the years asserting that former President Bill Clinton was seen on Jeffrey Epstein’s Little Saint James island or that he was present in social settings connected to Epstein; chief among named claimants in the public record are Virginia Giuffre (formerly Roberts), Steve Scully, and statements in various court filings and estate/document releases that reference “Doe 36” (reported to be Clinton) [1] [2] [3]. Clinton and his office have repeatedly denied ever visiting Little Saint James and say he flew on Epstein’s planes for Foundation work but “has never been to Little St. James Island” [4] [5] [6].
1. Who has said Clinton was on Little Saint James — the short list
Virginia Giuffre (formerly Roberts) has asserted in litigation and depositions that she saw or met Clinton on Epstein’s island and that he dined with young women there; her claims appear in court filings and reporting about her unsealed deposition [7] [3]. Steve Scully, a man who said he worked on Little Saint James, told a Netflix documentary he saw Clinton sitting with Epstein on the villa porch [2]. Other sources cite anonymous or redacted document references to Clinton — often labeled “John Doe 36” in paperwork tied to Giuffre’s suit and in troves of unsealed or released Epstein-related documents [3] [5] [8].
2. What exactly each witness or document says — Giuffre’s account
Virginia Giuffre’s statements in her 2016 deposition — unsealed later and reported in multiple outlets — assert that on two occasions Clinton visited the island and that she and “young” women dined with him, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell; she said Clinton was not sexually involved with her but that he would be a witness to the purpose for which she said she was there [7]. Reporting also notes Giuffre’s legal team sought to subpoena Clinton (referred to in filings as Doe 36) to testify about his relationship with Epstein [3] [5].
3. What exactly each witness or document says — Steve Scully’s account
Steve Scully, identified in press coverage as a former island worker, told the Netflix series Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich that he saw Bill Clinton sitting with Epstein on the island villa’s porch and that he saw no other guests at that time; this account was covered in Daily Mail reporting of the documentary [2]. The Daily Mail article summarizes Scully’s claim but also notes Clinton has denied visiting the island [2].
4. Documentary and document traces — “Doe 36” and estate files
Court filings related to Giuffre’s litigation and later releases of Epstein estate and investigative documents repeatedly reference an individual identified by media as “Doe 36,” whom ABC News and others connected to Clinton; reports say that name appears many times across filings and that lawyers tried to depose or subpoena that person [3] [5]. Large troves of FBI and prosecutor records from searches of Epstein properties — including Little Saint James — contain mentions of many high-profile figures; reporting stresses these references do not themselves prove criminal involvement and that some named people have denied wrongdoing [9] [8].
5. Clinton’s response and official denials
Clinton’s office, his spokesman and Clinton himself have consistently denied that he ever visited Little Saint James. In 2019 and in subsequent statements tied to his memoir, his team said he “has never been to Little St. James Island” while acknowledging he flew on Epstein’s planes for Clinton Foundation work [4] [5] [6]. Fact-checkers and news outlets note the tension between flight logs showing Clinton on Epstein planes and the lack of confirmed, contemporaneous Secret Service records or unambiguous photographic evidence of Clinton on the island in the publicly released materials [4] [9]. Available sources do not mention any Secret Service log or incontrovertible photographic proof published here that places Clinton physically on Little Saint James.
6. Conflicts, limitations and competing interpretations
Reporting shows disagreement: accusers and some witnesses say Clinton was on the island or present at island-era events [7] [2], while Clinton’s team denies any island visits and frames his contact as limited to flights and meetings with staff/security present [6] [5]. Documents released by prosecutors and estate custodians mention Clinton repeatedly, but those mentions do not, in the sources provided, equate to court findings of travel to the island or criminal culpability [3] [8]. Some claims in documents and emails — for example, an allegation that “sex tapes” existed involving Clinton — come from other witnesses’ accounts and were used by defence teams to challenge witness credibility; such claims are contested in the filings cited [10].
7. Why the record remains disputed and what would clarify it
The dispute persists because (a) some witnesses give direct testimony or eyewitness statements, (b) many documents reference Clinton by pseudonym or cite him in the context of subpoenas and depositions rather than clear travel logs, and (c) Clinton’s team has offered categorical denials of island visits while admitting plane travel with Epstein for Foundation business [3] [5] [4]. Confirmation would require an unambiguous contemporaneous travel or Secret Service record, credible photographic evidence, or an under-oath direct statement from Clinton addressing island-specific allegations; available sources do not provide such definitive proof [4] [3].
Conclusion: available reporting documents specific eyewitness assertions (notably Giuffre and Scully) and repeated mentions of Clinton in legal and investigative files, but Clinton and his office deny any Little Saint James visits and the public record provided here contains contested, not conclusively corroborated, evidence [7] [2] [6] [3].