Trump Advocates Federal Inquiry into Clinton’s Ties to Epstein as fresh Documents Surface
President Donald Trump on Friday called on federal law enforcement to open probes into links between the late financier, Jeffrey Epstein and former President Bill Clinton, seeking to shift attention after a newly released batch of Epstein-related records renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s network.
The White House request named other prominent figures and institutions — including banking giant JPMorgan Chase and economist, Larry Summers — as part of the review Trump says the Justice Department and FBI should undertake.
The president made the demand after Republican members of the House Oversight Committee published tens of thousands of pages of documents from Epstein’s estate, a trove that contains email exchanges and internal notes describing the financier’s contacts with politicians, business leaders and cultural figures.
Supporters of the release say the files give new context about how Epstein operated and who he communicated with; critics say the material is being used for partisan ends.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded by assigning a senior federal prosecutor to review potential leads, officials said, signaling the department would at least look into the matters the president flagged. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan and other career lawyers will determine whether the documents reveal any predicate for criminal inquiries into third parties.
Legal experts cautioned such reviews often require more than names in correspondence to build a case.
Clinton’s team reiterated long-standing denials that he engaged in or was aware of Epstein’s crimes, while acknowledging past social interactions with the financier.
The former president previously flew on Epstein’s plane for work related to foundation activities, but has not been charged with any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s trafficking network.
The disclosure also resurrected attention on JPMorgan Chase, which in 2023 reached a roughly $290 million settlement with women who accused Epstein, after lawsuits alleged the bank enabled his operation by overlooking warning signs in order to court a wealthy client. JPMorgan has said the settlement resolved those claims without admitting liability.
Political observers noted the timing of the president’s call: it came as Republicans sought to blunt criticism of his own previous relationship with Epstein and to portray the document release as a distraction orchestrated by opponents.
The unfolding sequence new records, public accusations, and a rapid federal review underscores how the Epstein affair continues to ripple through U.S. politics and institutions years after his death.
As prosecutors begin their preliminary work, officials and lawmakers said they would balance transparency with privacy and legal standards; whether the review yields criminal referrals or leads to broader civil actions remains unclear.
Survivors’ advocates urged investigators to prioritize the accounts of abuse victims and cautioned against letting partisan battles eclipse efforts to secure accountability and support for those harmed.
