Trump Orders DOJ and FBI Probe into Epstein's Alleged Ties to Clinton, Major Banks and Prominent Democrats

Trump orders investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's alleged connections

President Donald Trump said he will ask the Department of Justice, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI to investigate financier Jeffrey Epstein's reported links to major banks and several prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Trump wrote on social media that investigators should examine Epstein's "involvement and relationship" with Mr. Clinton and others "to determine what was going on with them, and him." Interest in Epstein's network surged after lawmakers released more than 20,000 pages of documents from his estate this week, some of which reference Mr. Trump.

Mr. Clinton has strongly denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes. In addition to Mr. Clinton, Mr. Trump named JPMorgan Chase, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and LinkedIn co‑founder and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman as subjects he wants examined.

"Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat's problem, not the Republican's problem! They all know about him, don't waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!" Mr. Trump wrote.

A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase said the firm regretted "any association" with Epstein and stressed that the bank "did not help him commit his heinous acts." The request for an investigation comes ahead of a scheduled House vote on whether the Justice Department should release all files related to the federal investigation of Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

The push to force a floor vote was triggered when Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn in and immediately signed a discharge petition; her signature provided the 218th required to compel the vote. Four House Republicans — Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert and Thomas Massie — joined Democrats in signing the petition.

Documents and emails

Documents released by the House Oversight Committee included apparent correspondence between Epstein and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers from October 2017. One email quoted Summers assessing Mr. Trump early in his presidency: "DJT is world's luckiest guy in terms of opposition, economy etc. still think his world will collapse." A representative for Mr. Summers told the Wall Street Journal in 2023 that he "deeply regrets being in contact with Epstein after his conviction."

The files also contain exchanges between Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20‑year sentence for sex trafficking. In a 2011 email, Epstein wrote to Maxwell: "I want you to realize that that dog that hasn't barked is Trump.. [VICTIM] spent hours at my house with him." While Mr. Trump was long acquainted with Epstein, he says they fell out in the early 2000s and has consistently denied involvement in Epstein's crimes. He was mentioned in some documents released this week but was not the sender or recipient of those messages.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said it would be a "huge miscalculation" for Mr. Trump to oppose releasing material related to Epstein, adding: "I truly just stand with the women, and I think they deserve to be the ones that we're fighting for."

The developments mark another chapter in public scrutiny of Epstein's network and the institutions and individuals who associated with him. The House vote, the released documents and the president's call for investigations are likely to keep the topic in the spotlight.