The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday its commitment to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged connections with former President Bill Clinton and JPMorgan, responding to President Donald Trump’s request. This move follows the release of documents by a congressional committee that raised new inquiries about Trump’s ties to Epstein. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi disclosed that Jay Clayton, the lead federal prosecutor in Manhattan, will spearhead the investigation.
The Epstein saga has been a persistent issue for Trump, who has faced accusations of spreading conspiracy theories about Epstein. Trump has urged the Justice Department to look into the involvement of Larry Summers, former treasury secretary, and Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn, in addition to Clinton. These requests align with the release of 20,000 Epstein-related documents by the House oversight committee.
Acknowledging his past association with Epstein, JPMorgan expressed regret for its ties with the late financier, stating they did not aid in any illicit activities. On the other hand, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, asserted that emails prove Clinton’s innocence in the matter. Hoffman, in response, called for the full disclosure of Epstein files to clear any baseless accusations against him.
Despite previous memos from the Justice Department and the FBI indicating no grounds for investigating third parties in the Epstein case, they have heeded Trump’s call for a probe. Trump, who had severed ties with Epstein before his 2008 conviction, has denied knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. The House of Representatives is set to vote on legislation compelling the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related material.
With Trump’s handling of the Epstein case facing scrutiny, only 40% of Republicans in a recent poll approved of his approach. Legal experts have criticized Trump’s involvement in directing the Justice Department to investigate individuals, calling it inappropriate. Jay Clayton, the designated lead in the Epstein investigation, is a political independent who previously chaired the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s administration.
