The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday that it will proceed with President Donald Trump’s request to investigate the alleged connections between Jeffrey Epstein and former President Bill Clinton, as well as financial institution JPMorgan. This move follows the release of documents by a congressional committee that raised concerns about Trump’s ties to Epstein and is part of Trump’s efforts to divert attention from their relationship.
Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that Jay Clayton, the lead federal prosecutor in Manhattan, will oversee the investigation. Trump has also called for an inquiry into former treasury secretary Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn and a prominent Democratic donor, based on information from the recently disclosed Epstein-related documents.
Trump emphasized on social media that Epstein’s association with the Democratic Party should be their concern, distancing himself and the Republicans from the issue. JPMorgan expressed regret for its previous association with Epstein as a client and denied any involvement in his illicit activities.
In response to the allegations, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, defended Clinton’s innocence, stating that the emails prove Clinton’s lack of involvement. Hoffman urged Trump to release all Epstein-related files to dispel any unsubstantiated claims against him.
Despite a previous memo from July indicating no grounds for investigating uncharged individuals in the Epstein case, the Justice Department has agreed to Trump’s demands. Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities, and his supporters have accused his administration of concealing information.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on legislation requiring the Justice Department to disclose all Epstein-related material, which could further implicate key figures. JPMorgan previously settled with Epstein’s victims for $290 million in 2023 over allegations of negligence in identifying his criminal activities. There is no concrete evidence linking Clinton, Summers, or Hoffman to Epstein’s crimes, and all have denied any wrongdoing.
Epstein had connections with various high-profile individuals before his conviction, including Prince Andrew, who faced repercussions for his association with Epstein. Trump’s directives to the Justice Department to investigate political adversaries have raised concerns of misuse of power, with experts criticizing the interference in legal proceedings. Clayton, an independent figure, previously led the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s initial presidential term.
