Fact Check: "Late pedophile hung portrait of cross-dressing Bill in his $88m Manhattan lair, made 17 visits to the White House, and flew president 26 times on his private jet"
What We Know
The claim that Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, hung a portrait of Bill Clinton in a blue dress in his Manhattan home is partially true. Epstein did own a painting of Clinton dressed in women's clothing, which was displayed in his townhouse, as reported by multiple sources (Times of Israel, Vanity Fair). However, the assertion that Clinton made 17 visits to the White House and flew on Epstein's private jet 26 times lacks credible evidence.
Bill Clinton has publicly denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, stating he was unaware of Epstein's illegal activities. He acknowledged flying on Epstein's plane but claimed it was for work-related purposes, specifically for the Clinton Foundation, and that he had flown with Epstein only a few times (AOL). The claim about 17 visits to the White House appears to be unfounded, as there is no substantiated evidence to support it.
The recent release of court documents related to Epstein did mention discredited allegations against Clinton, but these were not substantiated by credible evidence (ABC News). Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of Epstein, made various allegations against high-profile individuals, including Clinton, but these claims have been retracted or lack corroboration (ABC News).
Analysis
The claim combines elements of truth with significant exaggeration and misinformation. The existence of the portrait is confirmed, but the context and implications surrounding it are often misrepresented. The portrayal of Clinton as a frequent flyer on Epstein's jet and a regular visitor to the White House is not supported by reliable evidence.
The sources discussing Clinton's alleged visits and flights are primarily based on unverified claims made by individuals involved in lawsuits against Epstein and his associates. For instance, Virginia Giuffre's allegations have been discredited, as she later retracted some claims and admitted to fabricating details to gain attention (ABC News). The reliability of these claims is further undermined by the fact that no evidence supporting them was entered into the court record during relevant legal proceedings.
Additionally, while Clinton did travel on Epstein's plane, the frequency and context of these flights are often misrepresented. Clinton's spokesperson has consistently denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities (AOL).
In summary, while there is a factual basis regarding the portrait, the broader claims about Clinton's connections to Epstein are exaggerated and lack credible substantiation.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that Jeffrey Epstein hung a portrait of Bill Clinton in his Manhattan lair, made 17 visits to the White House, and flew the president 26 times on his private jet is misleading. While the portrait's existence is confirmed, the allegations regarding Clinton's visits and flights are not supported by credible evidence and have been discredited by various sources.
Sources
- Painting of Clinton in blue dress hung in Jeffrey Epstein's home
- Discredited claims about Clinton, Trump mentioned in latest batch of Epstein docs
- Bill Clinton Signed for sale | eBay
- Bill Clinton talks 'odd' Jeffrey Epstein in new memoir 'Citizen'
- Jeffrey Epstein Owned a Portrait of Bill Clinton in a Blue Dress
- The Bill Clinton Portrait Is Not Even the Most Sinister Decor
- There's Nothing More Corrupting Than Flying Private
- Bill Clinton denies visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in new memoir