Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sets the record straight after Speaker Mike Johnson’s claim sparks confusion.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that President Donald Trump was never an FBI informant in the case against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This statement came in response to confusion generated by a previous claim from House Speaker Mike Johnson.
On Sunday, Speaker Johnson told reporters that Trump had worked with the FBI to bring Epstein down for his sex trafficking crimes. However, Johnson later walked back his comments, stating he did not use the “right terminology” and was instead referring to Trump being helpful to law enforcement investigations.
READ: Polk County Sheriff: 6 Illegal Immigrants Arrested In Connection With Fatal Hit-And-Run
During a press briefing, a reporter asked Leavitt for clarification on Johnson’s claims. “Mike Johnson came out and said that the president was an FBI informant. Do you know what he meant by that if it is not true?” the reporter asked.
“I can affirm that is not true,” Leavitt responded. “I think the speaker was referring to the fact that President Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago property for reasons the president has already discussed.”
The president has previously stated that he ended his friendship with Epstein in 2004 and removed him from Mar-a-Lago. According to Trump, the falling out occurred after Epstein “stole” spa staffers, including then-17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who later said Epstein’s partner Ghislaine Maxwell recruited her for sex acts. Other reports have also suggested Trump banned Epstein from the property for making advances toward another member’s teenage daughter.
READ :Charlotte Grapples With Crime Surge As Stabbing Death Renews Scrutiny On Justice Reform
Recent accounts from individuals connected to Epstein have also supported the claim that Trump was not involved in any inappropriate behavior. In July, Ghislaine Maxwell told U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that she never witnessed Trump in “any inappropriate setting” and that he had been a “gentleman in all respects.” Additionally, during a September 3 interview with NBC News, Epstein’s victims denied ever hearing or seeing Trump engage in any inappropriate or illegal behavior.
The House Oversight Committee recently received the Epstein “birthday book,” which allegedly included a drawing of a naked woman with a signature attributed to Trump. Both the president and the White House have maintained that Trump did not draw the picture or sign the birthday card.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
