Doug Band, an ex-aide to former President Bill Clinton, told House investigators Tuesday he had no evidence or information that Mr. Clinton traveled to the private island of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr. Band, testifying behind closed doors before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told lawmakers he could not recall why he told Vanity Fair in a 2020 interview that Mr. Clinton went to the now-notorious compound located in the Virgin Islands.
Mr. Band also told lawmakers he couldn’t remember interactions with Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting prosecution on sex trafficking charges.
Mr. Band served as deputy assistant to Mr. Clinton in the White House and later served as counselor to Mr. Clinton, helping him establish the Clinton Global Initiative.
Mr. Band turned up in the Epstein files and appeared to have a close relationship with Epstein’s convicted associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who, messages show, Mr. Band had labeled as his “boo-boo” and “baby-cakes.”
He is the 17th person to testify before the committee about Epstein and Maxwell.
The panel is probing allegations Epstein procured women and underage girls for his wealthy friends. Mr. Clinton testified before the panel in February that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
Mr. Clinton is pictured in photographs from the Epstein files, and some images show him in proximity to Epstein’s victims. He’s denied knowledge of the crimes and has never been accused of wrongdoing.
Mr. Clinton said he cut ties with Epstein by 2006.
Neither Mr. Band, Mr. Clinton nor anyone outside of Epstein and Maxwell has been accused of wrongdoing in the case.
According to a source familiar with Mr. Band’s testimony Tuesday, he did not recall sending emails to Maxwell but said he fully controlled a “WJC” email address that sent messages uncovered in the Epstein files.
He told the panel that he “took steps to insulate Clinton” from Maxwell as he became aware of allegations against Epstein.
Despite using pet names, Mr. Band said he never had sexual conduct of any kind with Maxwell and said he doesn’t remember her introducing him to any women or girls.
He also claimed he does not remember talking to Epstein on any of the flights Mr. Band and Mr. Clinton took with Epstein on his private jet, and doesn’t recall any conversation elsewhere with Epstein.
Records show Mr. Clinton flew aboard Epstein’s jet on more than two dozen flight legs in the early 2000s. None of those flights landed on Epstein’s island.
Epstein helped fund the Clinton Global Initiative and wired $1 million, through Maxwell, to a publicity firm for the organization’s 2005 launch.
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