Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein partied together for more than a decade. One became president, the other died in jail.

President Donald Trump suggested focusing on former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case amid controversy over sealed investigation materials.

Trump has repeatedly denied prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago. For a president skilled at manipulating the media and controlling the Republican Party, it has been the most challenging test of his ability to shift the conversation in his second term.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who has been a target of recent attacks from Trump, also swooped in: “The president won’t rule out a pardon for a convicted child sex trafficker and Epstein’s co-conspirator. Says he is allowed to do it. Nothing suspicious about that...”

The New York Times also published a photo of Trump and the sex offender financier posing with singer James Brown.

After declaring that “people should really focus on how well the country is doing” rather than his links to the deceased child sex trafficker, Trump floated the idea of cash relief while talking up his latest trade deals on Friday.