Trump Calls for DOJ Probe into Epstein Ties, Including Clinton
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the relationships between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a range of high-profile figures, including former President Bill Clinton, financier Larry Summers, tech entrepreneur Reid Hoffman, and major financial institution JPMorgan Chase.
In a social media post on Friday, Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi and the DOJ, alongside the FBI, to look into Epstein’s connections with these individuals and institutions. “I will be asking A.G. Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions,” Trump wrote.
The call for a renewed probe comes after months of political pressure surrounding Epstein’s crimes and the possibility that certain powerful figures were connected to his network.
Bondi Appoints Jay Clayton to Lead Investigation
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded swiftly, announcing that Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), will take the lead on the investigation. “Thank you, Mr. President. SDNY U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton is one of the most capable and trusted prosecutors in the country, and I’ve asked him to take the lead,” Bondi said in a statement on social media. “As with all matters, the Department will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people.”
The renewed interest in Epstein’s connections comes after a 2023 memo from the DOJ and FBI concluded there was “no incriminating ‘client list'” nor credible evidence to suggest Epstein had blackmailed powerful individuals. At the time, the agencies stated that no further charges were expected in connection with their ongoing investigations into Epstein’s activities.
JPMorgan and Clinton Foundation Respond
In response to the renewed scrutiny, JPMorgan Chase issued a statement emphasizing that the bank was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities. “The government had damning information about Epstein’s crimes and failed to share it with us or other banks,” a spokesperson said. “We regret any association we had with the man, but did not help him commit his heinous acts. We ended our relationship with him years before his arrest on sex trafficking charges.”
In 2023, JPMorgan reached settlements with Epstein survivors and the U.S. Virgin Islands government for a combined total of $365 million. While the bank did not admit wrongdoing, the settlements were intended to resolve allegations that JPMorgan had ignored warning signs about Epstein’s trafficking operations.
Meanwhile, the Clinton Foundation also issued a statement addressing the allegations of Clinton’s ties to Epstein. “These emails prove Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing. The rest is noise meant to distract from election losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else,” a spokesperson said.
Clinton has long denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and has rejected claims that he ever visited Epstein’s infamous private island in the Caribbean. Despite this, Clinton’s travel records show that he flew on Epstein’s private jet on multiple occasions in the early 2000s, including on trips to Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Trump’s Ties to Epstein Under Scrutiny
Trump’s call for a DOJ investigation is also seen as an attempt to shift attention away from his own links to Epstein. The former president, who was friendly with Epstein for years, has been implicated in recent emails from the Epstein estate. Some of these emails reportedly referred to Trump as the “dog that hasn’t barked” and mentioned an alleged victim spending time at Trump’s residence.
In the aftermath of Epstein’s arrest in 2019, Trump distanced himself from the financier, claiming they had not spoken in over a decade. However, critics have pointed to the new emails, some of which were made public earlier this week, as potential evidence of Trump’s involvement with Epstein’s inner circle.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the claims, saying that the emails “prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.”
The Continuing Fallout from Epstein’s Crimes
Epstein’s suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges has left many questions unanswered. As investigations continue, bipartisan calls have grown for the full release of all documents related to Epstein’s crimes, including a list of individuals who may have been involved in his trafficking network.
In Congress, Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva recently joined a growing list of lawmakers calling for the full release of Epstein-related records, saying the public deserves transparency. Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, expressed concerns that Trump’s new request for an investigation was an attempt to deflect attention from his own ties to Epstein. “The President has not explained why he won’t release the files to the American people. Or why sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a cushy low-security prison after her interview with Trump’s former personal lawyer,” Garcia said in a statement.
Investigations and Public Pressure Continue
As the investigation into Epstein’s associates and their connections to powerful figures continues, it remains to be seen whether any new evidence will emerge that could implicate individuals like Clinton, Trump, or others. The pressure for transparency and accountability only seems to be intensifying, with public interest in the case showing no sign of waning.
