Topics: Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, Crime, US News, Politics
Donald Trump's Chief of Staff has commented on the Epstein files in a new interview - including one thing that the US President got wrong.
Susie Wiles, who has been described by The Telegraph as the 'ice maiden' who 'propelled Trump to victory,' sat down with Vanity Fair for a series of wide-ranging new tell-all interviews.
She candidly said the Republican leader, 79, has 'an alcoholic’s personality' and governs with 'a view that there’s nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing'.
However, another moment that stood out to people was when Wiles, who had held the high-ranking political position since January, talked about Trump's accusations against former US President Bill Clinton.
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For those who need a reminder, Trump has previously claimed, without having any evidence, that Clinton visited Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous private island, Little St. James, 'supposedly 28 times'.
In November, the President called for the Justice Department and the FBI to 'investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton'.
And shortly after the criminal financier died by suicide in 2019, Trump, during his first term, shared a tweet hinting that the Clinton was involved in Epstein’s suicide.
As per Politico, he told reporters at the time: “I know he was on his plane 27 times, and he said he was on the plane four times. But when they checked the plane logs, Bill Clinton - who was a very good friend of Epstein - he was on the plane about 27 or 28 times. So why did he say four times?"
However, Wiles has now told Vanity Fair that that 'there is no evidence' that the visits to the island took place'.
She said of Clinton's alleged visits: "There is no evidence," and when the publication asked whether there was anything incriminating about Clinton in the files, she reportedly said: "The president was wrong about that," as per CNN.
The Chief of Staff continued: "The people that really appreciated what a big deal this is are Kash [Patel] and [FBI deputy director] Dan Bongino.
"Because they lived in that world. And the vice president, who’s been a conspiracy theorist for a decade…. For years, Kash has been saying, ‘Got to release the files, got to release the files.’ And he’s been saying that with a view of what he thought was in these files that turns out not to be right."
It comes after both Trump and Clinton appeared in previously unseen photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate that were released by the House Oversight Committee (HOC).
While it's vital to note that the images do not imply wrongdoing on the part of these celebrities, HOC spokesperson Rep. Robert Garcia told press last week: "These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world."
The Clinton photo shows him standing with Epstein and his now-jailed associate Ghislaine Maxwell alongside others and even appears to bear the politician's signature.
Again, though, it's important to note it doesn't demonstrate any illegal activity by Clinton.
Clinton’s team has previously maintained he had cut ties with Epstein long before the financier's 2019 arrest and denies knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
As for Trump, one photo shows him posing in the middle of a group of women whose faces have been redacted.
While another features a large bowl with a label which reads 'Trump condom $4.50', with each of the red packets saying, 'I’m HUUUUGE!'.
The Department of Justice has until 19 December to release all the files it holds on Epstein, so more information should be with the public by the end of the week.
