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The U.S. Justice Department announced on Friday that it will proceed with President Donald Trump’s request to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to former Democratic President Bill Clinton and JPMorgan Chase. This move aims to divert attention from Trump’s own ties to Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The decision follows a congressional committee’s release of thousands of documents that once again raised questions about Trump’s relationship with Epstein, continuing a pattern where Trump has urged federal authorities to target political rivals.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Jay Clayton, the lead federal prosecutor in Manhattan, will oversee the inquiry. Epstein’s scandal has long been a source of political tension for Trump, partly because he has propagated conspiracy theories related to Epstein to his supporters.
Many of Trump’s supporters believe that Bondi and other officials have concealed Epstein’s associations with influential individuals and obscured the circumstances around his 2019 death in a Manhattan jail, which was ruled a suicide. Trump has used the Justice Department to target other political opponents, notably ex-FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom faced charges after Trump replaced prosecutors leading their cases.
Legal experts warn that Trump’s efforts could weaken ongoing criminal investigations, as judges have the authority to dismiss cases driven by “vindictive prosecution” motives—allegations both Comey and James have raised, but which courts have yet to resolve.
Patrick J. Cotter, a former federal prosecutor, criticized Trump’s interference, stating it was “outrageously inappropriate” and that “that’s not how the system is supposed to work.” Trump has additionally called on the Justice Department to examine Larry Summers, a former Treasury Secretary, and Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn’s founder and a significant Democratic fundraiser. All three individuals appeared in Epstein-related documents released by the House Oversight Committee.
Trump tweeted, “Epstein was a Democrat, and he’s their problem, not ours! They all knew about him. Stop wasting time on me—I have a country to run!” JPMorgan expressed regret over its past association with Epstein, clarifying that the bank’s relationship with him, from 1998 to 2013, did not involve aiding in any illegal acts. Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, stated that the released emails demonstrate that Bill Clinton was unaware of Epstein’s misconduct, dismissing the controversy as political noise.
Reid Hoffman called on Trump to release all Epstein-related files, claiming his interactions with Epstein were limited to fundraising activities for MIT. He also accused Trump of political persecution, emphasizing the need for transparency.
The Justice Department’s decision came despite a memo in July, which stated there was no evidence to justify investigating third parties connected to Epstein, claiming there was no “client list” indicating Epstein blackmailed prominent figures.
While Trump and Epstein were friends in the 1990s and 2000s, Trump asserts he cut ties before Epstein’s 2008 conviction on soliciting minors. Trump has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse, yet some supporters believe there has been a cover-up. Recently, Trump has avoided answering questions from reporters about Epstein, especially as new information has come to light.
Next week, the Republican-controlled House is expected to vote on legislation that would mandate the release of all remaining Epstein material held by the Justice Department, which was initially facing federal sex trafficking charges at the time of his death. This legislation is anticipated to pass, even after House Speaker Mike Johnson attempted to stall the vote. The bill would also need Senate approval and the president’s signature.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that only 40% of Republican respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the Epstein files, a significant decline from the 90% who approved of his overall presidential performance.
JPMorgan settled with victims of Epstein in 2023, paying $290 million after allegations that the bank ignored warning signs and internal complaints about Epstein’s activities. All involved parties deny any involvement in Epstein’s sex trafficking, and figures like Clinton, Summers, and Hoffman have denied wrongdoing, though they acknowledge past associations.
Clinton flew Epstein’s private jet multiple times before Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Summers accepted philanthropic gifts from Epstein while President of Harvard, and Hoffman has publicly admitted to meeting Epstein in professional contexts. Epstein also engaged socially with prominent figures such as Prince Andrew, who lost his royal standing largely due to his association with Epstein.
Jay Clayton, who will lead the investigation into Clinton, JPMorgan, and others, is an independent attorney and former SEC chair under Trump.
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