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Investing.com -- U.S. President Donald Trump stated Monday he "never had the privilege" of visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, claiming he declined an invitation from the convicted sex offender.
"I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn it down," Trump told reporters during a trip to Scotland. "In one of my very good moments, I turned it down."
The president’s comments represent his latest attempt to distance himself from the controversy surrounding his administration’s handling of files related to Epstein’s case and renewed questions about their past relationship.
Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019, owned a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prosecutors have alleged he used the compound to conceal sex trafficking and abuse of underage victims. The island reportedly hosted prominent figures from politics, business, and entertainment.
Trump, who socialized with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, provided new details about why their relationship ended. The president said he severed ties after Epstein recruited staff who worked for Trump.
"He hired help. And I said, ’Don’t ever do that again.’ He stole people that work for me," Trump explained. "He did it again. And I threw him out of the place persona non grata."
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