JB Pritzker's office responds to mention in Bill Clinton's Epstein testimony

Hannah Hudnall, Peoria Journal StarTue, March 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was mentioned during former President Bill Clinton's testimony about Jeffrey Epstein last week.

Both Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed to testify in person about the late sex offender after the House moved toward a vote to hold them in contempt of Congress.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released footage of the two's testimonies on March 2.

What did Bill Clinton say about JB Pritzker?

During his testimony, Bill Clinton was asked about 26 flights he took on planes "connected to Jeffrey Epstein," replying that many were taken on behalf of his charitable organization, the Clinton Foundation. He said at the time he "had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing."

When asked who he typically brought on such flights, he replied that he often brought people he worked with, Secret Service members and "people who volunteered to help us."

"For example, I think it was on one of these trips," Bill Clinton said. "I think that I had my first for the man who's now the governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker and his wife. They gave me, they helped me get started."

1 / 0See photos of Bill Clinton from the Epstein files

House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show former President Bill Clinton and Ghislaine Maxwell with Epstein in this undated photograph. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to give depositions to a House committee about accused late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, defusing a potential showdown between the legislative and executive branches.

Clinton, Pritzker staff speak out about Epstein testimony

Bill Clinton's Deputy Chief of Staff, Angel Ureña, later said on X that the former president was "simply giving an example" of the people he traveled with to see the Clinton Foundation's work.

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"Governor Pritzker joined a Clinton Foundation trip in 2008," Ureña said. "Not on Epstein’s plane. Not with Epstein. Not with Maxwell."

A spokesperson for Pritzker told Capitol Fax, "Governor Pritzker was asked to travel with President Clinton on two trips, once in 2008 and once in 2013. Neither utilized Jefferey Epstein’s aircraft, nor was he accompanied by that man or Ghislaine Maxwell. We understand that the GOP is desperate to deflect from the heinous accusations against President Trump in the Epstein Files, but this is a particularly weak effort to assign blame where there is none."

Thomas Pritzker steps down following ties to Epstein

Thomas J. Pritzker, a cousin of the Illinois governor, retired from his role as executive chairman of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation in February after his name appeared in the Epstein files, as reported by the Springfield Journal-Register.

The University of Chicago student newspaper reported on Thomas Pritzker's two dozen or so email communications with Epstein between 2010 and 2019. In the emails, the two reportedly discussed current events, made plans to see each other and shared news articles.

In the statement announcing his retirement, Thomas Pritzker expressed deep regret about his association with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

"I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner," he said. "I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims."

CONTRIBUTING: Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register; Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office denies Epstein link after Bill Clinton testimony

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