US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Friday that she has appointed Jay Clayton, interim US attorney for the southern district of New York, to lead an investigation into Donald Trump’s political adversaries and their connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The move came hours after Trump directed her to act, and marks a sharp reversal from a July memo by the Justice Department and FBI that concluded there was no evidence to warrant further inquiries into uncharged third parties.
Clayton, who previously served as SEC chair under Trump, was described by Bondi as “one of the most capable and trusted prosecutors in the country.” She added that the department would pursue the matter “with urgency and integrity.” The investigation is expected to focus on Democrats, with Trump specifically naming Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman.
The announcement coincides with an intense White House pressure campaign against Republican lawmakers ahead of a House vote on a discharge petition demanding the full release of Epstein-related Justice Department files. The petition, co-sponsored by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, requires 218 signatures to force a vote. The deciding vote was secured this week when Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn in after a two-month delay by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Several House Republicans have indicated support for the petition, citing constituent demands for transparency. However, the Trump administration has lobbied key signatories, including Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace. Boebert was summoned to a White House Situation Room meeting with Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, while Trump personally called Mace, who explained her position as a sexual abuse survivor. Mace wrote on X that “the Epstein petition is deeply personal.”
Meanwhile, Democrats on the House oversight committee released emails suggesting Trump knew about Epstein’s conduct. One email quoted Epstein saying “of course [Trump] knew about the girls,” while another described Trump as a “dog that hasn’t barked.” Trump’s team dismissed the emails as cherry-picked, and Republicans released a trove of over 20,000 files, including documents showing Epstein’s staff tracked Trump’s air travel.
