Whoopi Goldberg explains why her name appears in Epstein files

Whoopi Goldberg is setting the record straight about why her name appears in the Epstein files.

“Now, in the name of transparency, can you put up… my name is in the files,” Goldberg said on Tuesday’s episode of “The View” as an email from 2013 was displayed on the screen.

Goldberg went on to explain that her name appears in emails between Jeffrey Epstein and a person whose name has been redacted. In the correspondence, they discussed arrangements to secure a private plane for Goldberg’s trip to Monaco for a charity event hosted by Julian Lennon’s White Feather Foundation.

“It says, ‘Whoopi needs a plane to get to Monaco. … John Lennon’s charity is paying for it,” Goldberg read directly from the email, clarifying that it “should say Julian Lennon’s charity.”

“They don’t want to charter so they’re looking for private owners. Here’s the info,’” Goldberg continued reading. “And they give all the information and they’re saying, do you want to offer your G2?”

Co-host Sunny Hostin noted that Epstein appeared to decline the offer in a follow-up email.

Joy Behar also chimed in, saying, “So, in other words, anyone can be on this list,” to which Goldberg replied, “This is my point because, when I tell you, people are trying to turn me into… I wasn’t his girlfriend. I wasn’t his friend… You used to have to have facts before you said stuff.”

Behar then pointed out that President Trump is mentioned in the files 38,000 times, prompting Goldberg to say, “I can’t speak to him, but I’m speaking about me because I’m getting dragged.”

“People actually believe that I was with him. It’s like, honey, come on,” the comedian continued. “Every man I’ve ever been with, you’ve known about ‘em because either the Enquirer wrote about it, people wrote about this stuff.”

Sara Haines joined in to defend her co-host, noting that Goldberg’s name is one of many famous figures, including Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, who appear in the files for a variety of reasons.

“A lot of the reasons your name can be mentioned are news articles, third-party emails, contacts,” she said. “Again, wealthy, famous people often cross in professional and social circles, so that’s not the surprising part.”

Haines added that she believes what most people, including herself, are looking for in the files is “an accountability for the people that had a depth of relationship, the timing of that relationship and the nature of that relationship” with Epstein.

“Nobody wants to know that young girls were victimized and because of power and money, people turned their cheek,” Haines said. “Was this covered up? No one should be above scrutiny. No amount of status should soften abuse. And no system should protect the powerful over victims. That’s the problem.”

Following initial releases late last year, the Justice Department made public more than 3 million additional Epstein-related documents at the end of January.

Many celebrities, politicians and other well-known people are mentioned or pictured in the files, though most have not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein.

Goldberg’s name appears elsewhere in the documents, however there’s no indication that she ever spent time with the disgraced financier. Many mentions were merely newsletters and press emails promoting events featuring Goldberg.