WASHINGTON: Former President Bill Clinton told a congressional committee that Donald Trump once mentioned having “some great times” with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a video of his deposition released Monday.
The exchange reportedly took place at a golf tournament in 2002 or 2003, after Clinton had left office and more than a decade before Trump became president.
Clinton, testifying under oath to the House Oversight Committee, said Trump referenced Epstein and noted that their friendship had ended over a real estate deal. Clinton emphasized that the conversation did not make him believe Trump had been involved in any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Both Clinton and Trump had associated with Epstein prior to his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Both former presidents have consistently denied witnessing any sex trafficking or criminal activity connected to Epstein. Epstein, who entertained prominent figures at his residences in New York, Florida, and the Caribbean, was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges and died in prison, with his death ruled a suicide.
In his testimony, Clinton explained that he was introduced to Epstein by former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who described Epstein as a philanthropist willing to support Clinton’s charitable work. Clinton flew on Epstein’s private jet for trips to Asia, Africa, and Europe, as well as from Florida to New York, but said he moved on to other donors after 2003.
Clinton denied any sexual contact with people introduced to him by Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, though he acknowledged receiving a neck massage from a flight attendant later identified as an Epstein abuse survivor. He said he was unaware of Epstein’s exploitation of girls employed as masseuses and denied ever visiting Epstein’s Caribbean island.
The Republican-led panel also subpoenaed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who testified last week that she did not recall ever meeting Epstein.
This deposition adds further context to the former presidents’ associations with Epstein, highlighting their claims of no knowledge or involvement in his criminal activities.