US President Donald Trump criticized the recent release of Jeffrey Epstein files, calling it “a terrible thing.” He defended individuals like Bill Clinton and others who were depicted in the photographs that surfaced online. The photos included prominent figures such as Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger, and Lord Mandelson.
Despite being named in the files, Trump argued that most of the celebrities had innocently crossed paths with Epstein over the years. Epstein, a convicted child sex offender, preyed on underage girls as young as 14.
In response to the disclosure, Trump expressed his displeasure, suggesting that the focus on Epstein was an attempt to divert attention from the Republican Party’s accomplishments. He also spoke positively about Bill Clinton, stating that Clinton could handle any scrutiny related to his prior interactions with Epstein.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Trump blamed Congressional Democrats for pushing the release of the files. He acknowledged Epstein’s extensive connections in the 1990s and 2000s. The release of data was prompted by US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s commitment to protecting Epstein’s victims, leading to the unveiling of more documents in the following weeks.
The US Department of Justice was mandated to make all investigative files on Epstein public by midnight on Friday under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Epstein, a convicted sex trafficker, was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019, with his death ruled as a suicide.
The investigation revealed that the guards assigned to monitor Epstein had fallen asleep and falsified records, compounded by the malfunctioning or broken surveillance cameras in the area.