WSAHINGTON: The US Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with several high-profile Democrats and with JPMorgan Chase, following a directive from President Donald Trump.
Attorney-general Pam Bondi confirmed that federal authorities would examine Epstein’s interactions with former president Bill Clinton, former Treasury secretary Lawrence Summers, tech entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and the banking giant JPMorgan.
The announcement came shortly after Trump posted on Truth Social, calling for sweeping inquiries into the disgraced financier’s network.
Trump’s move is seen as an attempt to counter renewed scrutiny of his own links to Epstein.
This week, Congress released a large collection of documents suggesting Epstein had claimed Trump knew about the girls and spent long periods at his residence.
The disclosures sparked backlash from some within Trump’s Maga base, intensifying political pressure on the president.
Bondi has asked Jay Clayton, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, to lead the new probe a decision that could deepen concerns about the erosion of independence at the SDNY under Trump’s administration. The office declined to comment.
Clinton, Summers and Hoffman have not publicly responded. JPMorgan said it regretted any past dealings with Epstein but denied facilitating his crimes, adding that the US government had withheld critical information about him.
Epstein remained a client of JPMorgan’s private banking unit from 1998 until the bank severed ties in 2013, long after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
The bank later paid $75 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the US Virgin Islands over its relationship with Epstein.
While Trump supporters had expected a full release of Epstein-related documents earlier in his term, the DoJ and FBI previously stated there was no client list and no credible evidence of blackmail involving powerful figures.
The president’s latest call for investigations underscores his continued use of the justice department to pursue political adversaries.
Several of Trump’s critics including former FBI director James Comey, New York attorney-general Letitia James, and ex-national security adviser John Bolton have already been indicted and have pleaded not guilty.
The FBI did not comment on the president’s latest directive.
