Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a sweeping investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s past ties with high-profile Democrats and major institutions—an escalation that came just hours after what insiders described as a frantic call from President Trump, eager to flip the narrative surrounding his own long-scrutinized association with the disgraced financier.
To lead the probe, Bondi tapped Jay Clayton, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York—an office known for its blunt independence and its tendency to rattle powerful people. In her announcement on X, Bondi called Clayton “one of the most capable and trusted prosecutors in the country,” adding, “As with all matters, the Department will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people.”
Clayton’s appointment raised eyebrows immediately. Before Trump installed him at SDNY, he had never prosecuted a case. He served as chair of the SEC during Trump’s first administration and previously built a lucrative career at Sullivan & Cromwell, where he specialized in massive corporate mergers. After his interim term at SDNY expired, Manhattan judges kept him in place—while his official confirmation has been stuck in limbo, blocked by Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer using the Senate “blue slip” tradition.
The timing of Trump’s sudden push for Epstein-related probe into Democrats is impossible to ignore. On Truth Social, Trump framed the investigation as payback, accusing Democrats of weaponizing his “old ties” to Epstein—ties that have dogged him for years and resurfaced again as political pressure mounts.
In his post, Trump insisted Democrats are using what he called the “Epstein Hoax” to distract from the government shutdown. He argued that Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial, was actually closer to Democrats.
He didn’t stop there. Trump publicly floated a list of potential targets: former President Clinton; Larry Summers, the former Treasury secretary and head of Harvard; and Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and deep-pocketed Democratic donor.
“This is another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, with all arrows pointing to the Democrats,” Trump said. “Records show that these men, and many others, spent large portions of their life with Epstein, and on his ‘Island.’ Stay tuned!!!”
Trump’s demand—and Bondi’s quick action—signal a political fight that’s only sharpening.
Whether the probe turns up anything real or just more political theater remains an open question—but one thing’s clear: the clash over Epstein’s legacy is about to erupt into a high-stakes showdown between Trump and his political opponents.
