A year before Jeffrey Epstein apparently killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, he told a New York Times reporter that he thought criminalizing sex with teen girls was a “cultural aberration.”

Epstein made the statement while speaking to reporter James Stewart at his Manhattan townhouse on Aug. 16, 2018, according to a Times report published Monday.

While Stewart quizzed Epstein about recent business ventures in the tech industry, Epstein repeatedly steered the conversation to other topics — including sex.

“He said that criminalizing sex with teenage girls was a cultural aberration and that at times in history it was perfectly acceptable,” the Times reported Monday.

“He pointed out that homosexuality had long been considered a crime and was still punishable by death in some parts of the world.”

Stewart added that when he showed up to Epstein’s house that day he was greeted by a young girl with blond hair and an Eastern European accent.

“I can’t say how old she was, but my guess would be late teens or perhaps 20,” Stewart wrote. “Given Mr. Epstein’s past, this struck me as far too close to the line.”

Epstein also spoke to Stewart in front of a table decorated with photographs of Epstein and other famous people — including philanderers Bill Clinton and Woody Allen.