Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has told lawmakers that Donald Trump once said he had “some great times” with financier Jeffrey Epstein before their relationship ended years ago.
Clinton made the remark during a deposition before the U.S. House Oversight Committee as part of an ongoing congressional investigation into Epstein’s connections with powerful figures. (People.com)
According to Clinton’s testimony, the conversation happened at a golf event around 2002 or 2003, shortly after Clinton had left the White House. Clinton said Trump brought up Epstein during a brief discussion between the two. (ThePrint)
Clinton recalled that Trump mentioned he and Epstein had spent time together in the past but had later fallen out because of a disagreement related to a real estate deal. (ThePrint)
Despite recounting the conversation, Clinton told lawmakers he had no information suggesting Trump was involved in Epstein’s criminal activities. (People.com)
Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier with connections to politicians, celebrities, and business leaders, was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor and later faced federal sex-trafficking charges. He died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. (Wikipedia)
Both Clinton and Trump had previously acknowledged knowing Epstein socially before his criminal conviction. However, both have repeatedly said they were unaware of his illegal activities. (ThePrint)
Clinton also told the committee that the brief conversation with Trump did not give him any reason at the time to believe anything improper had taken place. (ThePrint)
The testimony was part of a broader investigation by lawmakers into Epstein’s network and the extent of his connections with influential individuals. The inquiry has brought renewed attention to Epstein’s relationships with several high-profile figures across politics, business, and entertainment. (TIME)