Former U.S. President Bill Clinton told lawmakers that Donald Trump once said he had “some great times” with Jeffrey Epstein before their relationship ended. The revelation came during a videotaped deposition released Monday by the House Oversight Committee.
In sworn testimony to the House of Representatives Oversight Committee, Clinton said Trump brought up Epstein during a golf tournament in 2002 or 2003 — shortly after Clinton left office and long before Trump became president.
“Somehow he knew I had flown in Jeffrey Epstein’s aircraft,” Clinton said. “He said, ‘You know, we had some great times together over the years, but we fell out all because of a real estate deal.’”
Trump has previously stated that their relationship deteriorated after Epstein hired young women who had worked at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.
Clinton testified that the exchange did not lead him to believe Trump was involved in any improper conduct. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Both presidents deny knowledge of crimes
Both Clinton and Trump had social ties to Epstein before the financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor. Neither has been accused by authorities of criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Epstein, who moved in elite political and business circles, was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges. He later died in prison; his death was ruled a suicide.
Both former presidents have repeatedly said they saw no evidence of sex trafficking during their interactions with Epstein.
Under Trump’s administration, the Justice Department released millions of investigative records related to Epstein. Some documents included photos of Clinton with women whose identities were redacted.
Clinton has consistently denied wrongdoing and expressed regret over his association with Epstein.
Clinton details his association
Clinton told lawmakers he was introduced to Epstein by former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who described Epstein as a donor willing to provide transportation for Clinton’s charitable work, including efforts related to his AIDS foundation.
Clinton acknowledged flying on Epstein’s jet for trips to Asia, Africa, Europe, and once domestically, but said he stopped associating with Epstein after 2003.
“I thought Mr. Epstein was an interesting man, but I didn't think he was really interested in what I was doing,” Clinton said.
He also stated he never visited Epstein’s Caribbean island and did not know Epstein had visited the White House 17 times during his presidency from 1993 to 2001.
Clinton denied any sexual contact with individuals introduced by Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, though he acknowledged once receiving a neck massage from a flight attendant later identified as an Epstein abuse survivor. He said he was unaware at the time of Epstein’s abuse of girls recruited as masseuses.
The Republican-led panel also subpoenaed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who testified that she did not recall ever meeting Epstein.
