Trump Pushes Investigation Into Clinton–Epstein Links as Political Tensions Intensify

NEW YORK (AP) — In a move that escalates an already fierce political showdown, President Donald Trump has urged U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a federal investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to Trump’s political rivals, particularly former President Bill Clinton.

Bondi announced on X that she has appointed Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to lead the probe. Her decision follows a tumultuous week in Washington, where congressional Republicans released nearly 23,000 pages of documents from Epstein’s estate, while House Democrats highlighted emails referencing Trump.

Despite Trump’s long-documented social ties with Epstein, the former president did not specify which alleged crimes he believes his opponents committed. Importantly, none of the individuals he named have been accused of sexual misconduct by any of Epstein’s victims.

Earlier Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would ask Bondi, the Justice Department, and the FBI to examine Epstein’s “involvement and relationship” with Clinton and other Democrats, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and LinkedIn co-founder and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman.

Trump described the controversy as “the Epstein Hoax, involving Democrats, not Republicans,” and urged investigators to also scrutinize JPMorgan Chase, the financial institution that once managed Epstein’s banking activities, along with “many other people and institutions.”

The renewed debate over Epstein’s network underscores how the disgraced financier’s legacy continues to influence U.S. politics, fueling partisan clashes and investigations ahead of the next election cycle.