Bill Clinton attempts to justify his regretful relationship with Jeffrey Epstein in his new tell-all book

In his new memoir Citizen: My Life After the White House, former President Bill Clinton opens up about his regrets surrounding his association with the now-deceased billionaire and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton calls Epstein “odd” and expresses deep remorse over their interactions, writing that he had “no inkling” of Epstein’s crimes. He admits that although he briefly met with Epstein on two occasions—once in Epstein’s Harlem office and once at his New York home—he had no knowledge of the illegal activities Epstein was involved in.

Clinton reveals that Epstein had offered his private jet to support Clinton’s foundation, and that he flew on it in 2002 and 2003. However, Clinton now regrets these decisions, saying, “The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein’s plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward.” Clinton emphasizes that by the time Epstein was first arrested in 2005, he had already ceased contact with him and had never visited Epstein’s infamous island.

Epstein, who pleaded guilty to procuring a child for prostitution in 2009 and faced sex trafficking charges before his 2019 arrest and subsequent death, was repeatedly linked to Clinton in court documents. Despite the public scrutiny, Clinton stresses his focus on the future, particularly through his foundation’s work and his efforts to move beyond past controversies.

The memoir, released on November 19, 2024, provides an account of Clinton’s post-presidential life, addressing global issues such as 9/11, the Iraq War, the Haiti earthquake, the Great Recession, and the January 6 insurrection. It also offers a more personal glimpse into his life as a father, grandfather, and husband.