U.S. President Donald Trump waves while heading to board Air Force One for a flight to Florida from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Nov. 7, 2025. Reuters
The U.S. Justice Department agreed on Friday to open a new investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s ties with former President Bill Clinton and JPMorgan. President Donald Trump pressed for this probe as fresh documents raised questions about his own past links with the late financier. The decision marked another sharp turn in a long-running political fight that now surrounds both parties.
Trump Demands a New Direction
Trump shifted the national spotlight after a congressional committee released thousands of Epstein-related files this week. Those records included details that drew new attention to Trump’s long friendship with Epstein in earlier years. Trump dismissed those issues and told supporters he wanted investigators to look at Clinton and other well-known Democrats instead.
Attorney General Pam Bondi named Jay Clayton as the lead prosecutor for the new inquiry. Clayton now heads the federal office in Manhattan. Trump voters have pushed Bondi and other officials for months to examine every connection around Epstein. Many of them believe powerful figures still hide key information.
Trump has made similar demands before. He ordered cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Both claim Trump used the Justice Department to punish political rivals.
Experts Raise Concerns
Legal scholars warned that Trump’s approach could weaken the new case. Judges can toss charges if they see “vindictive prosecution.” Comey and James already raised that argument. No judge has ruled yet.
Former federal prosecutor Patrick J. Cotter voiced strong concerns. He said it was “outrageously inappropriate” for any president to direct investigations toward private citizens. He added, “That’s not how it’s supposed to work.”
Trump also asked investigators to examine former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. Clinton, Summers, and Hoffman all appeared in the 20,000 documents released this week.
Trump wrote online, “Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem!”
Key Figures Respond
JPMorgan released a statement saying it regrets its old business ties with Epstein, who banked with them from 1998 to 2013. The bank said it did not help him commit “heinous acts.”
Angel Urena, a top aide to Clinton, wrote that documents show Clinton “did nothing and knew nothing.”
Hoffman said he only worked with Epstein on fundraising for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He urged Trump to release every Epstein file, saying a full release would expose “political persecution and slander.”
Conflicting Claims Continue
A memo from July stated that the FBI and the Justice Department found no evidence that supported charges against “uncharged third parties.” It also said investigators found no “client list” or proof of blackmail.
Trump and Epstein moved in the same social circles during the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump said he cut ties before Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Trump denies any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse. His supporters still pressure him to release every document related to the case.
Republican lawmakers expect to vote next week on a bill that would force a full release of the Epstein files. The measure will likely pass in the House.
JPMorgan settled claims with Epstein’s victims for $290 million in 2023 but admitted no wrongdoing. No credible evidence links Clinton, Summers, or Hoffman to Epstein’s crimes.
Clayton, who leads the new probe, formerly chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term.
