In the tense hush of a closed-door congressional deposition, former President Bill Clinton—under oath—casually dropped a name that stunned political watchers: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and his wife, he recalled, had joined him on one of Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous private jets, the so-called “Lolita Express.”
The moment, captured in recently released video clips, reignited explosive questions about hidden ties among Democratic heavyweights and the convicted sex trafficker whose island and flights concealed unimaginable horrors. Clinton described the trips as tied to Clinton Foundation charity work, insisting he saw no wrongdoing, yet the mention of Pritzker sent ripples of surprise and suspicion through elite circles already shadowed by Epstein’s dark legacy.
Pritzker swiftly pushed back, declaring he “never met” Epstein, never boarded his plane, and never crossed paths with Ghislaine Maxwell—while Clinton’s team clarified the ex-president had simply mixed up a 2008 foundation trip on a different aircraft. Still, the sworn words linger, fueling fierce partisan debate over memory, motive, and what powerful figures might still be concealing.
In the hushed confines of a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on February 27, 2026, former President Bill Clinton, testifying under oath about his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, made an unexpected reference that quickly ignited controversy. While discussing the more than two dozen flights he took on Epstein’s private jet—often for Clinton Foundation charity work in the early 2000s—Clinton was asked about companions on those trips. He mentioned bringing staff, Secret Service agents, and various supporters or donors to observe the foundation’s initiatives. In one segment of the released video clip, which circulated widely online, Clinton appeared to name Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and his wife as having joined him on one such flight aboard Epstein’s aircraft, infamously dubbed the “Lolita Express.”
The remark stunned observers and fueled immediate speculation about potential undisclosed connections between Pritzker—a prominent Democrat, billionaire heir, and speculated 2028 presidential contender—and the late financier convicted of sex trafficking-related offenses. Epstein’s network has long cast a shadow over numerous high-profile figures, with his private plane symbolizing elite access and secrecy. Clinton, who has previously acknowledged the flights for humanitarian purposes and denied witnessing any wrongdoing, described the trips as legitimate foundation efforts.
Pritzker responded decisively the next day during a Chicago press appearance. “No, I have never met Jeffrey Epstein,” he stated emphatically. “I was never on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane. I was never on any plane with Jeffrey Epstein or with Ghislaine Maxwell. Never met her.” He added that he first learned of Epstein around 2019, when federal charges surfaced. Pritzker described Clinton’s comment as a clear mistake, noting the former president’s quick correction.
A spokesperson for Clinton, including former deputy chief of staff Angel Ureña, clarified shortly after the clip surfaced that the reference was erroneous. The mention stemmed from a separate 2008 Clinton Foundation charity trip to Rwanda, where Pritzker accompanied Clinton—not on Epstein’s plane, but on an aircraft donated by Google. Additional trips involving Pritzker occurred in 2013, again unrelated to Epstein. Flight logs, FAA records, court documents, and Epstein manifests reviewed by media outlets show no evidence of Pritzker’s name appearing on Epstein’s jet.
The episode underscores the persistent volatility of anything tied to Epstein’s scandals, even years after his 2019 death. Released portions of Clinton’s deposition emphasized his insistence that he saw no illicit activity and would have reported it if he had. Yet the brief, viral mention of Pritzker sparked partisan reactions, with some Republicans calling for probes and social media amplifying unverified claims.
Both Clinton’s team and Pritzker aligned on the facts: no shared flight with Epstein occurred, and the confusion arose from conflating separate charitable travels. In an era of rapid information spread and political polarization, such moments highlight how easily a memory slip—under hours of questioning—can reignite scrutiny over elite networks, leaving public doubt to linger despite clarifications and contradictory evidence.
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