Donald Trump has finally spoken out about the Jeffrey Epstein files controversy, and he's even revealed if he ever visited the infamous island.
The Trump administration has been facing mounting pressure in recent weeks to release the so-called Epstein files of the late convicted pedophile, with theories that it contains an alleged 'client list' of the rich, famous, and powerful.
When asked by reporters about the controversy, Trump insisted he never once visited Epstein's private island, Little Saint James.
The POTUS said: "By the way, I never went to the island. And Bill Clinton went there, supposedly, 28 times.”
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"I did turn it down, but a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island," he continued. "In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didn't want to go to his island."
Trump also claimed he didn't talk to Epstein 'for years', adding: "I wouldn't talk because he did something that was inappropriate.
"He hired help, and I said don't ever do that again. He's stolen people that work for me, I said don't ever do that again. He did it again, and I threw him out of the place.
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"I threw him out and that was it."
Trump was also asked about a drawing in a letter sent to Epstein, which reportedly included a sketched outline of a naked woman.
The president said: "I’m not a drawing person. I don’t do drawings. Sometimes you would say, would you draw a building? And I’ll draw four lines and a little roof, you know, for a charity stuff, but I’m not a drawing person.
“I don’t do drawings of women, that I can tell you.”
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It's been more than five months since Attorney General Pam Bondi said the files were sitting on her desk and waiting to be released, though the Department of Justice announced shortly afterwards that it would not release any further files related to the case. The DOJ added no such 'client list' exists.
However, the Trump administration had made a shocking U-turn on the matter in recent weeks, announcing that all the FBI files, including the grand jury testimony, will be released.
Still, the president is doubling down on what the files include, telling reporters today: "It’s a hoax that’s been built up way beyond proportion. I can say this, those files were run by the worst scum on Earth.
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"They were run by (former FBI director James) Comey, they were run by (former US attorney general Merrick) Garland, they were run by (former president Joe) Biden, and all of the people that actually ran the government.
"Those files were run by these people. They were run by my enemy. If there was anything in there, they would have used them for the election,” he added.
The news come as Trump didn't exactly rule out a presidential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the former partner of the late financier and sex offender, earlier this month.
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Maxwell is currently behind bars serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking offences after a jury found her guilty of luring teenage girls to Epstein.
She was also found guilty of sex trafficking minors, conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Yet, her legal team have long argued against her conviction, claiming she should have been protected by a non-prosecution agreement previously made between Epstein and the US government.
"Well, I’m allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody’s approached me with it. Nobody’s asked me about it," Trump said. “It’s in the news – that aspect of it – but right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.”
Topics: Crime, Donald Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Politics, US News
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