The U.S. Justice Department announced on Friday that it would act on President Donald Trump’s request to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with former Democratic President Bill Clinton and JPMorgan, as Trump sought to shift focus from his own relationship with the convicted sex offender.
This move comes two days after a congressional committee released thousands of documents that raised new questions about Trump’s ties to the late financier. It also marks the latest in a series of demands by Trump for federal law enforcement to target his perceived political adversaries.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Jay Clayton, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, would lead the investigation.
The Epstein scandal has been a political issue for Trump for months, partly due to his amplification of conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein among his supporters. Many of Trump’s voters believe that officials like Bondi have concealed Epstein's ties to powerful individuals and obscured details about his death by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019.
Trump has previously used the Justice Department to target other political figures, notably former FBI Director James Comey and New York State Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom were charged after Trump replaced the prosecutor handling their cases. 'Not how it's supposed to work'
Legal experts warn that Trump’s requests could undermine the criminal investigations that arise from these probes, as judges can dismiss cases motivated by "vindictive prosecution"—a concern raised by both Comey and James, though courts have not yet ruled on their requests for case dismissals.
Patrick J. Cotter, a former federal prosecutor, called it "outrageously inappropriate" for Trump to order an investigation into individual citizens, adding, "That's not how it's supposed to work."
In addition to Clinton, who had socialised with Epstein in the early 2000s, Trump has also requested the Justice Department investigate former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn and a prominent Democratic donor. All three were mentioned in the 20,000 Epstein-related documents released by the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.
"Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem!" Trump wrote on social media. "They all know about him, don't waste your time with Trump. I have a country to run!"
JPMorgan issued a statement expressing regret over its past association with Epstein, who was a client from 1998 to 2013, but insisted it did not help him commit "heinous acts."
Clinton and Summers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hoffman was also unavailable for comment.
Despite a July memo from the Justice Department and the FBI stating there was no "evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties" in the Epstein case, the department decided to move forward with Trump’s request. The memo also stated, "This systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list'," and that there was no credible evidence Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals. Trump faces continued pressure over Epstein
Trump and Epstein were friends in the 1990s and 2000s, but Trump claims he severed ties with Epstein before the financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Trump has consistently denied knowledge of Epstein’s abuse and sex trafficking of underage girls. However, some of Trump’s supporters have accused his administration of covering up details about Epstein. Although Trump frequently engages with reporters, he has avoided answering questions as new revelations about Epstein emerge.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is set to vote next week on a bill that would force the Justice Department to release all materials it holds on Epstein, who was facing federal charges for sex trafficking minors at the time of his suicide. The bill is expected to pass, despite efforts by House Speaker Mike Johnson to block the vote. If passed, the measure would require the Senate to approve similar legislation, and Trump’s approval to compel the Justice Department to act.
In an October Reuters/Ipsos poll, only four in 10 Republicans approved of Trump's handling of the Epstein files, a sharp contrast to the nine in 10 who approved of his overall performance as president. Trump 'trying to distract'
"Trump is clearly desperately trying to distract from his own presence in the Epstein emails," said Alan Rozenshtein, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and former Justice Department lawyer.
In 2023, JPMorgan paid $290 million to settle claims from Epstein's victims, accusing the bank of turning a blind eye to Epstein’s sex trafficking activities. The settlement followed embarrassing disclosures that JPMorgan ignored internal warnings and overlooked red flags about Epstein, although the bank did not admit to any wrongdoing.
There has been no credible evidence linking Clinton, Summers, or Hoffman to Epstein's sex trafficking. All three have denied any wrongdoing and have expressed regret over their associations with him.
Clinton flew on Epstein’s private jet several times before Epstein's 2008 conviction, while Summers accepted philanthropic donations from Epstein during his tenure as president of Harvard University. Hoffman has acknowledged meeting Epstein several times in a professional capacity.
Before his conviction in 2008, Epstein socialised with numerous high-profile figures, including the UK’s former Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his royal title partly due to his association with Epstein.
Clayton, the prosecutor tasked with overseeing the probe into Clinton, JPMorgan, and others, is a political independent who chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term in office.
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