The U.S. justice department has confirmed it will investigate paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein's alleged links to major banks and several prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton.
US President Donald Trump announced he would request Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI to examine Epstein's involvement and relationship with Clinton and others.
Bondi stated that the department will pursue this with urgency and integrity.
Trump's request followed the release of thousands of Epstein's emails by the US Congress, which included mentions of Trump himself. Democrats have accused Trump of attempting to deflect inquiries regarding his own relationship with Epstein.
The emails, released by the US House Oversight Committee, included many high-profile figures, revealing that Trump was mentioned in over 1,600 of the 2,324 email threads reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the committee, asserted that Trump was trying to divert attention from serious new questions about his history with Epstein.
Trump indicated that he requested the Justice Department (DoJ) to also investigate banks JP Morgan and Chase, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, a notable Democratic donor. He remarked, Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat's problem, not the Republican's problem!
Clinton has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes, while a spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase expressed regret for their association with Epstein, emphasizing that the bank did not help him commit his heinous acts.
It remains unclear whether Trump's directive to the justice department was formal or merely a social media post prompting Bondi's response.
Bondi confirmed that she appointed US Attorney Jay Clayton to direct the investigation into Epstein's ties.
Trump's request emerges as the House of Representatives prepares to vote on a motion to demand the release of all files related to the Epstein investigation. This comes after residential lawmaker Adelita Grijalva's swearing-in act triggered a significant move to call for the release of Epstein's documents and the congressional investigation into his dealings.
Interest in Epstein’s connections has intensified following the congressional release of over 20,000 pages from his estate, which includes numerous references to Trump.
Amidst this political theater, Epstein's surviving victims and accusers have urged lawmakers to prioritize justice and transparency, warning that the memory of the victims should guide their decisions.
As this investigation unfolds, it brings renewed scrutiny not just to Epstein's notorious actions, but also to the broader political entanglements and implications related to power and privilege in the context of sexual exploitation.
