[Report by Zhao Jiandong and Li Sa] Facing the media’s incessant questioning about their connection to the Epstein case, President Donald Trump, on his rare outburst during his visit to Scotland on the 25th, was furious. The Independent reported that when asked whether he considered pardoning Epstein’s former girlfriend, British socialite Ms. Maxwell, Trump initially stated he had “little knowledge” of the details of Maxwell’s conversation with U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. He then “angrily” demanded the media shift their focus to former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
“You should pay attention to Clinton, to Harvard’s former president, to those hedge fund moguls—I can give you a list,” Trump said, “(You) should really talk to Bill Clinton, who has visited that island 28 times, and I have never been there, not even knowing what they were talking about.” Trump insisted he had no connection to the Epstein case, “I have nothing to do with this person.”
When pressed on whether he would consider pardoning Maxwell, Trump denied it, saying, “People should focus on how the country is developing or on the fact that Obama planned a coup.” The Independent reported that Trump acknowledged “the right” to pardon Maxwell but “hasn’t yet considered it.”
Fox News also reported that Clinton’s spokesperson has not yet responded to the media’s request for comment. The report mentioned that Clinton, in his 2024 memoir, claimed he had never visited “Little Island” and wished he had never met Epstein.
Last week, The Wall Street Journal exposed that Trump had written “obscene” congratulatory messages to Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003. In response, Trump said, “Maybe someone impersonated me and wrote letters, which is too common.” He pointed the finger at the previous Democratic administration, accusing Democrats of spreading fake news, “All of it is false.”
Epstein was closely associated with numerous American politicians and business figures. After being arrested for suspected sexual crimes in August 2019, he died in prison in 2019, deemed “suicide.” Some Republican supporters believe Epstein possessed a “customer list” involving sex trafficking, which included many members of the Democratic Party, demanding the authorities release it.
During his campaign for president in 2024, Trump promised to release documents related to the Epstein case upon taking office. His appointed Attorney General Barr told the media that the “customer list” had been sent to her desk for review. However, on July 7th this month, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a joint memorandum, declaring the existence of such a “customer list” and deciding not to release any documents related to the Epstein case. Faced with continuous public pressure, Trump accused Democratic former President Obama of attempting “to manipulate the election” and committing “a treasonous offense” on the 22nd of this month. Obama’s spokesperson immediately refuted these allegations, calling them absurd and a “clumsy attempt to divert attention.”