Bill Clinton Discloses Deep Emotional Struggles in New Memoir After 2016 Election Loss

Clinton’s memoir delves into the immediate emotional aftermath of the 2016 presidential race, where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was unexpectedly defeated by Donald Trump. Describing those years as some of the darkest, he admits to struggling profoundly with insomnia and outbursts of rage.

Insomnia and Anger Plagued Clinton Post-Election

"I couldn’t sleep for two years after the election. I was so angry, I wasn’t fit to be around," Bill Clinton writes, explaining his state during that tumultuous time. He also extends an apology for his behavior, recognizing the impact of his rage on those around him.

"I apologize to all those who endured my outbursts of rage, which lasted for years and bothered or bored people who thought it pointless to rehash things that couldn’t be changed," he reflects in the memoir.

Factors Influencing the 2016 Presidential Election

Clinton attributes his wife’s loss to a confluence of external factors, including alleged Russian interference in the election, controversial actions by then-FBI Director James Comey, and a biased political press. He cites social scientist Kathleen Hall Jamieson, who argued that these elements swayed critical swing-state voters.

"Almost two years after the election, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a highly regarded social scientist said Russia’s cyberattacks piled on top of Comey’s interventions were effective enough to persuade voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to vote for third parties or stay at home," Clinton shares.

He denounces these factors as enablers of Putin, putting the blame squarely on what he describes as collaborative disruptions to the electoral process.

Clinton's Controversial Association with Jeffrey Epstein

Another significant part of Clinton’s memoir addresses his regret over his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton admits to traveling on Epstein's plane but vehemently denies any deeper involvement with Epstein’s criminal activities.

"The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein’s plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward. I wish I had never met him," he asserts.

He further clarifies his disconnect with Epstein post-2005, especially after Epstein’s legal troubles became public. "He hurt a lot of people, but I knew nothing about it, and by the time he was first arrested in 2005, I had stopped contact with him. I’ve never visited his island," Clinton adds.

Reflections on the Monica Lewinsky Scandal

The memoir also revisits the Monica Lewinsky scandal and a 2018 interview with NBC News where Clinton was pressed on whether he had apologized to Lewinsky. His frustration during the interview becomes apparent as he recounts the experience.

"Did you ever apologize to her? I said that I had apologized to her and everybody else I wronged. I was caught off guard by what came next," he narrates, reflecting on the pointed questions that followed.

Clinton admits that while he never spoke to Lewinsky directly post-scandal, he has publicly expressed his remorse on multiple occasions, trying to manage his frustration in public narratives surrounding the affair.