Doug Band, a former top aide to President Bill Clinton, faced intense questioning from the House Oversight Committee regarding his past email exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a prison sentence for her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation. During a closed-door interview on June 30, Band was presented with a series of emails from the 2000s in which Maxwell engaged in what has been described as flirtatious banter.
According to a transcript obtained by the Daily Mail, Maxwell sent Band emails that included references to his physical attributes, her acting as his "pimp" and "lover," and offering to arrange sexual encounters for him. One email from April 2002 stated Maxwell had a "crush" on Band and that he was "hung like a horse." Another from April 2003 showed Band asking Maxwell to join him and a friend, Philip Levine, for a "burgerfest," to which Maxwell replied that the three of them made a "good team" and she could advise him on "female woes."
Band, who was Clinton's "body man" and later a chief advisor, admitted to the "silly, flirtatious banter" but repeatedly denied having any romantic or physical relationship with Maxwell. When pressed on specific emails, such as one from April 2002 where Band referred to Maxwell as his "pimp" and "lover," and another from August 2002 where he expressed a desire to "spank bottoms tonight," Band stated he did not recall the context or meaning.
Rep. Nancy Mace questioned Band's repeated claims of not recalling certain exchanges, suggesting it might be a legal tactic. Band's lawyer, Howard Shapiro, intervened during questioning about the "hung like a horse" email, expressing disbelief at the line of questioning.
The committee's inquiry into Band's communications with Maxwell occurs amidst the ongoing government investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking network. Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, visited the White House 17 times during Clinton's presidency, sometimes accompanied by Maxwell, according to White House visitor logs. Band testified that he never witnessed Clinton engaging in any compromising behavior with Epstein or his victims during these visits or on trips aboard Epstein's plane.
Clinton has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes, stating in his own testimony that he "saw nothing, and did nothing wrong."