Trump Urges Media to Scrutinize Democrats Over Epstein Ties

During remarks to reporters on Friday, former President Donald Trump sought to redirect public attention from his own past links to Jeffrey Epstein by urging greater scrutiny of prominent Democrats with known connections to the convicted sex offender.

“They should really be looking into people like Larry Summers, Bill Clinton—you know them well—and others who were close to Epstein,” Trump said before boarding a flight to Scotland. “Focus on them, not me. I had nothing to do with the man.”

Trump emphasized that he had never set foot on Epstein’s notorious private island, which has been the subject of disturbing allegations involving underage girls and powerful men. He called out Summers again by name, stating, “The conversation should be about Larry Summers and the people around him.”

Summers, a former president of Harvard University and high-ranking economic advisor under Presidents Clinton and Obama, was named in unsealed court documents from 2023 that detailed Epstein’s communications and meetings. These records show that Summers continued to meet with Epstein over a dozen times between 2013 and 2016—years after Epstein had been convicted as a sex offender and banned as a donor by Harvard.

Summers later expressed regret over the contact, stating he “deeply regrets having had meetings with Epstein after his conviction.” He claimed that his involvement was limited to securing funding for a nonprofit founded by his wife, Eliza New, a Harvard literature professor.

New launched an educational video project focused on poetry in 2016. That same year, Epstein’s foundation contributed $110,000 to support the initiative, according to reporting by the Washington Times.

Flight records for Epstein’s jet—often dubbed the “Lolita Express”—also show that Summers flew with Epstein at least four times. These trips included a 1998 flight during his tenure as deputy treasury secretary and multiple others while he was president of Harvard.

Meanwhile, Epstein’s long-documented ties to former President Bill Clinton have also drawn renewed scrutiny. Numerous photos show the two men together, and Clinton was named in documents unsealed during proceedings related to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidante who is now imprisoned for aiding in the trafficking of underage girls.

While there is no direct evidence implicating Clinton in criminal acts, court records include claims from a woman who said Epstein once told her that Clinton “likes them young.” Additionally, Maxwell admitted under oath that Clinton had flown on Epstein’s jet, although she said she could not recall how often.

Clinton has acknowledged traveling with Epstein but insists that it was only for philanthropic missions in Africa in the early 2000s. He publicly praised Epstein as a generous donor at the time but later cut off ties. He has maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal behavior and that his Secret Service team accompanied him on all trips aboard Epstein’s plane.

Adding a new twist, sources told ABC News that Ghislaine Maxwell was recently questioned for nine hours over two days by the Department of Justice under a limited immunity deal. The interviews were reportedly initiated by Maxwell herself, and the immunity arrangement allowed her to speak with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche without fear of self-incrimination.

This type of agreement, known as “proffer immunity,” is typically offered to individuals who may become cooperating witnesses in ongoing criminal investigations.