In a significant political move, US President Donald Trump has officially ordered an investigation into the controversial connections of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with numerous high-profile individuals and institutions.
Trump's Directive and Political Stance
President Trump announced on Friday that he is directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a comprehensive probe into Epstein's relationships with prominent figures. The announcement came through a post on Truth Social, where Trump framed this action as a direct countermeasure against Democratic opponents.
The President accused Democrats of using what he termed the "Epstein Hoax" to distract from what he called their "disastrous SHUTDOWN, and all of their other failures." Trump emphatically stated that "Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat's problem, not the Republican's problem!"
Investigation Targets and Immediate Actions
The investigation will specifically examine Epstein's relationships with several high-profile individuals and institutions, including former President Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, and banking giant J.P. Morgan Chase. The probe aims to determine the exact nature of their involvement with the convicted sex offender.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed later the same day that she would initiate the investigation as ordered by the President. She assigned Jay Clayton, the top prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, to lead the federal investigation.
This decision represents a notable departure from a July 2025 Department of Justice memo which stated that a review of the files found no evidence to warrant an investigation into these matters.
Political Fallout and Internal Debates
The President's move marks his most significant effort yet to discredit the growing bipartisan pressure to release all Epstein case files. However, the strategy has faced criticism from some unexpected quarters within conservative circles.
Conservative media personality Megyn Kelly publicly questioned the approach, stating: "Why doesn't he just release these? Just release them! Now he's in a position of being, like, singled out as the only one, allegedly, as opposed to one of a slew of names."
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also expressed concerns, calling the President's opposition to releasing the files a "huge miscalculation."
The White House's handling of the Epstein situation has sparked internal debate. Earlier this week, the administration unsuccessfully tried to block a discharge petition in the US House designed to force a floor vote on releasing the Justice Department's Epstein files.
Despite an in-person meeting at the White House where officials reportedly showed her unreleased documents, key GOP lawmaker Rep. Lauren Boebert signed the petition, providing the decisive 218th signature needed to move forward.
Reports indicate that President Trump himself has been dictating the administration's response, instructing his team to consistently oppose actions that risk propelling the story forward.
With the vote now unavoidable, House Speaker Mike Johnson has agreed to schedule a vote on releasing the Epstein files next week. The measure is expected to garner substantial support from rank-and-file Republican lawmakers, indicating potential challenges ahead for the administration's preferred approach to handling the Epstein case.
