President Donald Trump on Friday directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a federal investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with high-profile individuals and institutions, including former President Bill Clinton, economist Larry Summers, tech investor Reid Hoffman, and banking giant J.P. Morgan Chase.
The directive follows the public release of Epstein’s emails, which reportedly include references to Trump himself.
In a post on Truth Social, the President described the move as a counteroffensive against Democrats, accusing them of weaponizing what he termed the “Epstein Hoax” to distract from the recent government shutdown and other political setbacks.
“Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem,” Trump wrote.
Attorney General Bondi confirmed she would comply with the President’s directive, appointing Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to lead the probe.
This marks a reversal from a July 2025 Department of Justice memo that found no grounds for further investigation into Epstein’s connections.
The investigation is expected to scrutinize Epstein’s financial and social ties, particularly those involving political figures and major institutions.
The move comes amid growing bipartisan pressure to release all Epstein-related files. Earlier this week, the White House failed to block a discharge petition in the House of Representatives aimed at forcing a vote on the release.
Representative Lauren Boebert provided the decisive 218th signature, despite reportedly being shown unreleased documents during a private White House meeting.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has since agreed to schedule the vote next week, with strong support anticipated from Republican lawmakers.
Some of Trump’s allies have expressed concern over the strategy. Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly questioned the President’s resistance to releasing the files, saying, “Why doesn’t he just release these? Just release them!”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also criticized the move, calling it a “huge miscalculation.”
Reports suggest Trump is personally directing the administration’s response, instructing aides to oppose any action that could amplify the story.
