Trump Asks DOJ to Probe Epstein's Ties to Clinton Amid New Email Revelations

President Trump Calls for Investigation as New Epstein Emerge

In a dramatic development that has reignited interest in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, President Donald Trump has announced he will request the Department of Justice investigate Epstein's alleged ties to former President Bill Clinton and other prominent figures. This move comes just days after the release of thousands of Epstein's private emails, which contain numerous mentions of Trump himself.

The Context: New Epstein Email Release

The current controversy stems from the recent release of over 20,000 pages of documents from Epstein's estate by the House Oversight Committee. These emails, which span from 2009 to 2019, have brought renewed scrutiny to Epstein's relationships with powerful figures across the political and business spectrum.

A review by the Wall Street Journal found that Trump was mentioned in more than 1,600 of the 2,324 email threads reviewed. The documents contain correspondence between Epstein and various high-profile individuals, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.

Trump's Response

Hours after the documents began circulating online, Trump took to Truth Social with a sweeping demand. He announced he would ask Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice, and the FBI to investigate Epstein's ties to "Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions."

"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!"

"Bondi said she appointed US Attorney Jay Clayton to lead an investigation into the ties with Epstein."

Attorney General Pam Bondi quickly responded, posting on X that she had assigned Attorney Jay Clayton to lead the investigation. Clayton is a high-profile figure among Republicans, having chaired the SEC during Trump's first term and now serving as the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Unflattering Revelations About Trump

While Trump attempted to frame the investigation as targeting Democrats, the released emails contain numerous unflattering comments about Trump himself. Epstein repeatedly described Trump in blunt, often hostile terms, contradicting some of Trump's own claims about their relationship.

In one 2017 exchange, Epstein dismissed Trump sharply: "your world does not understand how dumb he really is. he will blame everyone around him." A year later, he described Trump as "evil beyond belief, mad... nuts!!!"

Perhaps most damaging to Trump's narrative is an email from 2011, where Epstein wrote to Ghislaine Maxwell: "that dog that hasn't barked is trump.. [Victim] spent hours at my house with him,, he has never once been mentioned." This directly challenges Trump's claims that he had no involvement with Epstein's alleged crimes.

Responses from Those Named

Clinton has strongly denied that he had knowledge of Epstein's crimes. In the emails, Epstein mentioned several times that Clinton was "never on the island," though the two did know each other in the early 2000s.

Larry Summers, whose unusually personal correspondence with Epstein was revealed in the documents, has previously expressed regret for his past ties to Epstein. The emails show him seeking relationship advice from Epstein, including how to interact with a woman in London.

Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder and Democratic donor, has also acknowledged his regret. "It gnaws at me that, by lending my association, I helped his reputation, and thus delayed justice for his survivors," he told the Wall Street Journal.

JPMorgan's Connection

Trump's inclusion of JPMorgan in his request comes after the bank paid out more than $450 million in 2023 across multiple settlements related to its historic relationship with Epstein. The bank has repeatedly said it "deeply regrets any association" with Epstein and would not have kept him as a client had it known of his crimes.

Political Implications

Democrats have accused Trump of trying to deflect from questions about his own relationship with Epstein. Representative Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said Trump was attempting to "deflect from serious new questions we have about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein."

The timing of Trump's request is significant, as it comes ahead of a House vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to the investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

What Happens Next?

The DOJ investigation, led by Jay Clayton, will likely focus on Epstein's alleged ties to the individuals and institutions named by Trump. Meanwhile, the House vote on releasing additional Epstein files could provide more context about the relationships between Epstein and various powerful figures.

As this story continues to develop, it raises questions about the intersection of wealth, power, and accountability. Regardless of political affiliation, the Epstein scandal has touched numerous prominent figures, and the full extent of those connections remains to be seen.