Former US president Bill Clinton explains hot tub and pool photos from Epstein files, stating they were taken during a 2002 Brunei trip for charity work.

WASHINGTON: Bill Clinton has addressed viral photographs from the Jeffrey Epstein files showing him in a hot tub and pool with unidentified individuals.

The former US president testified before a Republican-led congressional committee investigating Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Clinton stated he had no knowledge of Epstein’s sex crimes, for which the financier was awaiting trial before his 2019 jail cell death.

During his deposition, the 79-year-old was questioned about two specific images.

One photo showed Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose face was redacted, while another pictured him in a swimming pool with Maxwell and an unidentified woman.

Clinton explained the photos were taken during a 2002 visit to Brunei at the Sultan’s invitation.

The trip was related to the Clinton Foundation’s AIDS initiative, according to his testimony.

“He invited me to stay there and he said, ‘I want you to stay at this hotel and I hope you’ll use the pool,’” Clinton said.

“I swam around. I sat in the hot tub for five minutes or whatever it was and I got up and went to bed.”

Clinton added he believed a Secret Service agent was present at the other end of the pool during the incident.

He stated he did not know the identity of the redacted woman but believed she was a member of his travelling party.

When directly asked if he engaged in any sexual activities with the woman, Clinton replied, “No.”

Hillary Clinton also testified, stating she did not know Epstein.

Bill Clinton confirmed he severed ties with the financier before his sex crimes became public in 2008.

He acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private plane several times in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation humanitarian work.

The depositions were conducted behind closed doors in Chappaqua, New York, where the Clintons reside.

The House Oversight Committee released video excerpts of their testimony.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking minor girls to Epstein.

Both Bill Clinton and former President Donald Trump feature in the publicly released Epstein files.

Neither has been formally accused of any wrongdoing related to the case.

Clinton told the committee that Trump, once a close friend of Epstein, never indicated involvement in any improper activities.

 The Sun Malaysia