Swedish businesswoman Barbro Ehnbom has broken her silence about her connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in an interview with Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Ehnbom, who appears multiple times in Epstein-related files, had maintained contact with the financier since the early 2000s and continued their association even after his 2008 conviction for buying sex from a minor.
According to reports from Göteborgs-Posten and Aftonbladet, Ehnbom defended her actions by stating she believed Epstein's 2008 conviction was politically motivated. "We knew about it. But in New York, we thought it was political because he gave enormous amounts of money to the Democrats," she reportedly told SVT. She also denied allegations that she transported young Swedish women from her network to Epstein.
We knew about it. But in New York, we thought it was political because he gave enormous amounts of money to the Democrats
Ehnbom's network, "Barbros best and brightest," consisted of talented young female economists from the Stockholm School of Economics and was reportedly sponsored by Epstein through a fund administered by the school. In her defense, Ehnbom stated, "Just because I have been close to a monster doesn't mean I am a monster."
The reports note that Epstein had close friendships with both Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton during the early 2000s. Ehnbom described Epstein and Trump during that period as "bachelors" who were "handsome, rich, and unmarried." Epstein died in jail in 2019 while under investigation for trafficking minors.
Just because I have been close to a monster doesn't mean I am a monster
bachelors who were handsome, rich, and unmarried