United News of Bangladesh

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has accused the administration of President Donald Trump of deliberately delaying the release of files linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, alleging a “cover-up” in their handling. Speaking to the BBC in Berlin on the sidelines of the annual World Forum, Clinton said the documents should be made fully public without delay. “Get the files out. They are slow-walking it,” she said, arguing that transparency is essential and that everyone should be treated equally. The White House rejected the accusation, saying the administration has released thousands of pages of material and has done “more for the victims than Democrats ever have,” while also cooperating with congressional requests. Asked whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before a US congressional committee, Clinton said anyone asked to testify should do so. She stressed that appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing, noting that Andrew has consistently denied any misconduct. Millions of documents related to Epstein were made public earlier this month after Congress passed legislation requiring the US Department of Justice to release investigation materials. While the Justice Department says it has met the legal requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, several lawmakers argue the disclosures remain incomplete and have called for the release of internal decision-making memos. Epstein died in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, more than a decade after a previous conviction involving a minor. His death came as scrutiny over his network of powerful associates intensified. Prince Andrew has faced renewed pressure from US officials and from the family of his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, to testify about his links to Epstein. He has denied wrongdoing and settled a civil case in 2022 without admitting liability. Giuffre died in 2025. Both Clintons are due to testify before the House Oversight Committee later this month, with Bill Clinton scheduled to appear a day after Hillary Clinton. A planned contempt vote against the couple was dropped after they agreed to testify, marking the first time since 1983 that a former US president will appear before a congressional panel. Bill Clinton, who is mentioned multiple times in the Epstein files, has said he cut off contact with Epstein years ago. Neither of the Clintons has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims, and both have denied knowing about his criminal activities at the time. Hillary Clinton said she and her husband have called for the hearings to be held publicly. “We have nothing to hide,” she said, adding that she believes the focus on the Clintons is being used to divert attention from Trump, who is also mentioned frequently in the files but has denied any wrongdoing. Clinton said she had met Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell on a few occasions, while reiterating her call for full disclosure of all relevant documents, saying public scrutiny remains the best safeguard.   With inputs from BBC

In the East Room of the White House on a particularly frigid Saturday afternoon, President Joe Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 of the most famous names in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and science. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aroused a standing ovation from the crowd as she received her medal. Clinton was accompanied to the event by her husband former President Bill Clinton, daughter Chelsea Clinton and grandchildren. Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor-director Denzel Washington were also awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor in a White House ceremony. “For the final time as president I have the honor bestowing the Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor, on a group of extraordinary, truly extraordinary people, who gave their sacred effort, their sacred effort, to shape the culture and the cause of America,” Biden said in his opening remarks. “Let me just say to each of you, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’ve done to help this country," Biden said Saturday. Four medals were awarded posthumously. They went to George W. Romney, who served as both a Michigan governor and secretary of housing and urban development; former Attorney General and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy; Ash Carter, a former secretary of defense; and Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Kennedy is father to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for health and human services secretary. Biden said, “Bobby is one of my true political heroes. I love and I miss him dearly.” Romney is the father of former Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, one of Trump's strongest conservative critics. Read: Five-time Olympic medalist Tom Daley announces retirement from diving Biden has days left in the Presidential office and has spent the last few days issuing awards and medals to valiant military veterans, courageous law enforcement officials and exceptional Americans. The White House said the Medal of Freedom recipients have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.” Major philanthropists receiving the award include Spanish American chef José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen charity has become one of the world's most recognized food relief organizations, and Bono, the front man for rock band U2 and a social justice activist. Soros' son Alex Soros accepted the medal on his father's behalf. In an emailed statement, Soros said: “As an immigrant who found freedom and prosperity in America, I am deeply moved by this honor." Sports and entertainment stars recognized include professional soccer player Lionel Messi, who did not attend the event; retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend and businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson; actor Michael J. Fox, who is an outspoken advocate for Parkinson’s disease research and development; and William Sanford Nye, known to generations of students as “Bill Nye the Science Guy." Other awardees include conservationist Jane Goodall; longtime Vogue Magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour; American fashion designer Ralph Lauren; American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr.; entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist Tim Gill; and David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group global investment firm. Lauren is the first fashion designer to receive the honor. Read more: Prince Amyn Aga Khan conferred with Municipal Merit Medal Last year, Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including the late Medgar Evers, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina and actor Michelle Yeoh. The Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded 654 times between 1963 and 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service. Notable Medal of Freedom recipients from the past include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou and Mother Teresa.

One of the world’s better known fans of mystery novels, Hillary Rodham Clinton, is now writing one.

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Tuesday backed former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic Party's current presumptive presidential nominee.

Hillary Clinton is not done talking about Bernie Sanders.