Former President Bill Clinton addresses lingering controversies from his post-White House years in his latest memoir, "Citizen – My Life After The White House."
In the memoir, Clinton confronts allegations of White House vandalism during the presidential transition, his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and his involvement with Monica Lewinsky, Mail Online reported.
Clinton tackles allegations that his staff removed the letter "W" from White House keyboards during the 2001 transition to President George W. Bush. These claims also included more severe accusations, such as glued filing cabinets, obscene answering machine messages, and inappropriate images on office printers. Vandalism allegations extended to include smashed crockery on Air Force One and unauthorized removal of White House furniture.
Clinton denies claims that he took furniture without authorization and insists that he did not destroy any government property on his flight to New York on Air Force One. He remains uncertain about the authenticity of the keyboard vandalism, although he expressed a strong desire for a smooth presidential transition. Clinton states that subsequent reports indicated that the extent of the keyboard damage was overstated.
An investigation by the General Accounting Committee identified damages totaling $15,000, but no charges were brought against those involved. Clinton further emphasizes his doubt over the keyboard incident, stating, "I didn’t know about the alleged removal of the 'W' keys, but the whole thing bothered me because I had made it clear that I wanted a smooth, cooperative transition and we had done exactly that."
Aside from the vandalism allegations, Clinton's memoir sheds light on his interactions with American financier Jeffrey Epstein. The former president admits to flying on Epstein's notorious aircraft, the "Lolita Express," but denies ever visiting Epstein's island. Clinton acknowledges Epstein's peculiar behavior but claims ignorance of his criminal activities.
In his memoir, Clinton reflects on the consequences of his association with Epstein, lamenting, "The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein’s plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward. I wish I had never met him." Clinton reiterates his stance of having severed ties with Epstein before his initial arrest in 2005.
Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern, also resurfaces in his memoir. He openly discusses his impeachment and affair with Lewinsky, recounting a 2018 interview in which he addressed the nature of his apologies. Clinton stated he had apologized to Lewinsky and others he wronged, acknowledging the public statements of regret without direct communication with her.
The memoir details Clinton's efforts to navigate the complex legacy of his presidency and post-presidential activities. While he confronts several controversies, he underscores the importance of coming to terms with these aspects of his past.
In addition to responding to the controversies, Clinton defends his conduct during the chaotic White House transition period. He insists that people exaggerated or misrepresented cases of vandalism and unauthorized actions. Public records and subsequent investigations support some of his assertions.
Clinton reflects on the challenges he faced in maintaining his reputation after leaving office. His memoir clarifies misunderstandings and takes responsibility where appropriate, while disputing false claims. Throughout the narrative, he unpacks the complexity of his relationships and decisions.
To conclude, Clinton's new memoir addresses several controversies from his post-presidential life, including disputed White House vandalism allegations, ties to Epstein, and his past affair with Lewinsky. The former president offers a defense of his actions while acknowledging the wider implications of these events. His recollections emphasize his attempts to reconcile these parts of his history with his legacy.
