The White House is doing its best to try to clean up Donald Trump’s puzzling remarks about accused child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. As the alleged Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator sits in a jail cell, the president wished her well. There have been two White House briefings since Trump wished Maxwell well, but a reporter has yet to follow up directly with the president. Instead, on Fox News, Brett Baier asked the White House Press Secretary about this “strange” remark. Kayleigh McEnany replied:

“What the president was noting is that the last person who was charged in this case ended up dead in a jail cell. And the president wants justice to be served for victims in this case, and he prefers that to play out in a courtroom.”

But it’s hard to buy that clarification. And now Trump critics like those at The Lincoln Project (watch above) are using the president’s connection to Maxwell against him.

The Los Angeles Times writes:

“Trump’s sympathy for Maxwell… hit the ‘refresh’ button on the president’s five decades of leering, exploitative history with women. You may think you’ve heard enough about Trump’s genital-grabbing, but don’t go numb.”

“For four years, Trump has hoped that with payoffs, aggressive attorneys and Twitter intimidation he can avoid real consequences for his history of adultery, ritual humiliation of women, harassment and sexual abuse. But it’s all in plain sight.”