Bill Clinton Says It Was ‘Really Hard’ for Him When Ghislaine Maxwell’s Crimes Were Exposed

Former President Bill Clinton said it was “really hard” to learn about convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes in a newly released deposition video from the House Oversight Committee.

“I think that this thing was really hard for me when it came out because, you know, we had been friendly with Ghislaine,” Clinton, 79, said in the video released on Monday, March 2.

“I was sad but it was terrible what she did, and she has to be punished,” he continued. “Somebody besides me should make a decision on what it is. So, she got 20 years and there it is.”

Maxwell, 64, was convicted in December 2021 on federal charges including sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and conspiracy.

Prosecutors said she recruited and groomed underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein, helped facilitate their abuse and, at times, participated in it. She was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison.

Clinton previously released his full opening statement from the February 27 deposition and he claimed that he “had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing.”

“No matter how many photos you show me, I have two things at the end of the day that matter more than your interpretation of those 20-year-old photos,” Clinton continued in the statement shared on X. “I know what I saw, and more importantly, what I didn’t see. I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn’t do. I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong.”