Trump Demands Investigation into Epstein's Ties with Clinton and Others

In a significant political move, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday night that he is requesting the Department of Justice and the FBI to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the links between the late financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

This request follows the release of a 2019 email attributed to Epstein by Democratic lawmakers, which raises new questions about Epstein's connections to Trump himself.

In response, Trump has called for an inquiry not only into Epstein's relationship with Clinton but also into his ties with JP Morgan Chase and former Harvard University President and ex-Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during his trip to Florida, Trump stated:

"I know nothing about the Epstein email... my relationship with him was very poor for many years."

Trump further accused Democratic opponents of attempting to "divert attention" from the resolution that ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, claiming that what he refers to as the "Epstein trap" targets Republicans, while the controversy, as he describes it, "only involves Democrats."

On his platform "Truth Social," Trump wrote:

"I will ask Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice, along with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate the implications of Jeffrey Epstein and his relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, JP Morgan Chase, and others."

He added that records indicate "these men and others spent significant time with Epstein on his private island."

Despite years of scrutiny regarding Clinton's association with Epstein, the former president has not faced any charges. In fact, recently released emails from 2011, reviewed by AFP, confirm that Clinton "never visited" Epstein's infamous Caribbean island.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that her department will handle the case "swiftly and with integrity," noting that New York Attorney General Jay Clayton will lead the investigation.

Clinton's spokesperson, Ángel Ureña, asserted on platform "X" that the emails demonstrate that "Clinton did nothing and knew nothing," labeling the situation as "noise to divert attention from electoral losses and government shutdowns."

In this context, JP Morgan Chase has denied Trump's allegations, reminding that it paid $290 million in 2023 to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by Epstein's victims.

In a statement to AFP, the bank said:

"We regret any past connection with Epstein, but we did not assist him in his crimes, and the government had solid evidence that was not shared with us or other banks."

No comments have been issued by Larry Summers or Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote next week on a proposal requiring the White House to release documents related to the case.

Additionally, survivors of Epstein's victims sent a letter to lawmakers requesting public disclosure of the documents, stating: "There is no room for compromises... nor to hide behind party affiliation."

These developments come just two days after Trump had remained silent on the controversy reignited by the email release, which raised further questions about his past associations with Epstein. The deceased financier died in his prison cell in 2019, in an incident authorities have ruled a suicide prior to his federal court appearance on sexual exploitation charges.