President Donald Trump said he knows “nothing about” recently released comments made by Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who committed suicide while facing sex trafficking charges.

The newly-public email says Trump “knew about the girls.”

Asked by reporters Nov. 14 aboard Air Force One what Epstein meant by the comment, Trump said “I know nothing about that.”

Trump also said he hasn’t thought about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, the Epstein associate serving 20 years in prison after being convicted on five counts related to sex trafficking.

“I don’t rule it in or out, I don’t even think about it,” Trump said.

Democrats in the House released emails this week that show Epstein discussing Trump, including one that said Trump “spent hours at my house” with a victim. The emails have reignited the controversy around the Epstein case, which has dogged Trump during his second term.

The Trump administration’s decision not to release more Epstein documents has prompted backlash, and a push by Congress to get the records. A petition aimed at releasing all of the Epstein documents garnered enough signatures this week to force a vote on the issue in the House.

Responding to a question about reports that he lobbied Republican lawmakers to withdraw their signatures from the petition, Trump said “We think it’s bad to talk about (Epstein) because it gets away from the subject of how well the Republicans are doing.”

“They want to waste people’s time, and some of the dumber Republicans like that,” Trump added.

Epstein’s 2019 federal indictment alleged he "sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes" in Manhattan and Palm Beach, and at other locations. Epstein paid some of his victims to recruit more underage girls, according to the indictment. He was facing up to 45 years in prison when he killed himself.

Trump responded to the release of the emails this week by asking the Justice Department and the FBI to investigate Democrats linked to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was initiating a probe.

“I’m the chief law enforcement officer of the country,” Trump said of requesting the investigation. “Not that I want to use that, but I am the chief law enforcement agent in the country, and I’m allowed to do it.”

Contributing: Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘I know nothing about that.' Trump responds to Epstein email saying 'he knew about the girls'

Reporting by Zac Anderson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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