Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will ask the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate ties between the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and several high-profile Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, ex-Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and Silicon Valley figure Reid Hoffman.
Posting on his social-media platform Truth Social, Trump declared: “Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem! Ask Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and Larry Summers about Epstein … Stay tuned!!!”
The announcement follows the recent release of more than 20,000 pages of Epstein-related documents by the House Oversight Committee, which renewed scrutiny over Epstein’s connections with business and political elites.
Trump emphasised that his focus now shifts away from himself, noting in his statement that he has “a country to run” and that investigators should “not waste their time” on him. He asserted that evidence indicates heavy associations between Epstein and the individuals he named.
While the DOJ and FBI have not publicly confirmed whether they will launch the investigation, JPMorgan Chase, one of the financial institutions flagged by Trump, issued a statement expressing regret for its past association with Epstein but said it had no role in facilitating his crimes.
The justice-system leadership, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, has neither endorsed nor rejected the call to investigate. Legal experts are closely watching whether the presidential request marks the start of a formal investigation or a politically driven maneuver. One former prosecutor said directing the DOJ to probe specific individuals can raise separation-of-powers concerns and could be seen as “outrageously inappropriate.”
Trump’s call comes amidst intense congressional scrutiny of the Epstein case. A discharge petition in the House has compelled a vote next week on legislation that would force full release of the government’s files related to Epstein—a move opposed by the White House.
Critics argue that Trump’s renewed focus on Epstein’s ties to Democrats is a diversion tactic aimed at shifting attention away from questions about his own historical association with Epstein. Observers note this raises significant questions about whether the president is seeking accountability or leveraging the scandal for political gain.
