Bill Clinton claims he had no idea about paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘terrible crimes’… but admits he flew with him four times
BILL Clinton has claimed he had no idea about his paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein’s "terrible crimes" but admitted he flew with him four times.
The former US president broke his silence on the billionaire banker's sex trafficking charges raising questions over how much his high-powered associates really knew about his involvement with underage girls.
In a statement Clinton's office said: "President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York.
"In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took a total of four trips on Jeffrey Epstein’s airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation.
"Staff, supporters of the Foundation, and his Secret Service detail travelled on every leg of every trip.
"He had one meeting with Epstein in his Harlem office in 2002, and around the same time made one brief visit to Epstein’s New York apartment with a staff member and his security detail.
"He’s not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little St. James Island, Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico, or his residence in Florida."
CLINTON TRAVELLED WITH EPSTEIN
Appearing to contradict Clinton's 'four flights' claim, logs obtained by appear to show the former president took at least 26 trips aboard Epstein's Boeing 727 from 2001 to 2003.
The aircraft was grimly nicknamed the "Lolita Express".
In 2016, Fox News reported that Clinton spent enough time aboard Epstein's plane that he should be eligible for frequent flyer miles.
The jet owned by Epstein, who was one of Clinton's associates at the time, was reportedly set up with a bed where guests were encouraged to have group sex with young girls.
That “included extended junkets around the world with Epstein and fellow passengers identified on manifests by their initials or first names, including ‘Tatiana,’” the outlet found.
It is not yet clear who Tatiana is nor is the relevance of her name appearing on the manifest.
In September 2002, Clinton flew with Epstein on a week-long tour through Africa that included stops in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, and Mozambique.
Actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker were reported to have also been on the trip.
'TERRIFIC GUY'
Epstein is well known for his links to current US president Donald Trump.
In his most extensive known public comments about Epstein, Trump told New York magazine in 2002 that he'd known the financier for 15 years and praised him as a "terrific guy."
Trump said: "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it - Jeffrey enjoys his social life."
Trump Organisation attorney Alan Garten has since distanced Trump from Epstein, telling Politico in 2017 that Trump "had no relationship with Mr Epstein and had no knowledge whatsoever of his conduct."
Clinton had previously praised Epstein's intellect and philanthropic efforts.
In a 2002 profile on Epstein by , a spokesperson for Clinton said of him: "Jeffrey is both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science.
"I especially appreciated his insights and generosity during the recent trip to Africa to work on democratisation, empowering the poor, citizen service, and combating HIV/AIDS."
Prince Andrew was also dragged into the Jeffrey Epstein paedo scandal as a photo of him with an 'underage prostitute' was listed as an exhibit at a court case last year.
The Duke of York was photographed with his arm around Virginia Roberts’ waist at a London townhouse in March 2001.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told Sun Online in December: “It is emphatically denied The Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts.”
Prince Andrew was also photographed with Epstein in 2011 after his release from prison and in the ensuing row the prince lost his role as a trade envoy for Britain.
'VAST ABUSE NETWORK'
Clinton's statement comes as FBI agents raided Jeffrey Epstein's luxurious £60million Manhattan mansion on Saturday where they allegedly found a huge stash of child abuse images in the billionaire’s safe.
The legal indictment released yesterday details the charges against the financier.
It alleges that Epstein "sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls" at his homes in various locations.
The document claims the 66-year-old would pay girls "hundreds of dollars" to perform sex acts with him and would also pay certain victims "to recruit additional girls to be similarly abused."
It continues: "In this way, Epstein created a vast network of underage victims for him to sexually exploit in locations including New York and Palm Beach."
At a press conference, Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said investigators “seized evidence including nude photographs of what appeared to be underage girls” while scouring the convicted paedophiles mansion over the weekend.
Agents raided the 66-year-old’s Upper East Side townhouse as Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges at a New Jersey airport.
Berman alleged they found “perhaps thousands” of photos of nude and half-nude females there — including images of “at least one girl who, according to her counsel, was underage at the time the relevant photographs were taken.”
In an indictment unsealed Monday, prosecutors said they want to seize the seven-floor Manhattan mansion, reported .
Epstein appeared in court yesterday to contest the charges.
Berman said: "The alleged behaviour shocks the conscience, and while the charged conduct is from a number of years ago, it is still profoundly important to the many alleged victims, now young women.
"They deserve their day in court."
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He "intentionally sought out minors and knew that many of his victims were in fact under the age of 18," according to prosecutors, who said he also paid some of his victims to "recruit additional girls to be similarly abused."
He faces up to 45 years in prison if he is found guilty on both counts of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors.
Epstein pleaded not guilty Monday to sex trafficking charges.
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