Trump Orders Investigation into Epstein's Ties with Democrats Amid Shutdown Blame

According to CBS News, President Trump has directed the Justice Department and FBI to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's connections with prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, amid ongoing government issues such as the recent shutdown.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Democrats of diverting attention to the 'Epstein hoax' to evade blame for the government shutdown, which was the longest in U.S. history. He stated, 'I will be asking A.G.

Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P.

Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions.' Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the directive and stated that U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton would lead the investigation, emphasizing that the department would pursue this with urgency and integrity.

This announcement comes despite a July memo from the Justice Department and FBI claiming they found no evidence warranting further investigation into uncharged parties connected to Epstein. In a statement, Bondi noted, 'As with all matters, the Department will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people.' However, critics have pointed out that this investigation seems to contradict previous findings that did not uncover credible evidence against Epstein's associates.

Reid Hoffman, a Democratic donor and co-founder of LinkedIn, described Trump's call for an investigation as an 'obvious ploy' to distract from the release of Epstein files, advocating for their full disclosure to seek justice for the victims of Epstein's trafficking ring.

Clinton's spokesperson responded to Trump's allegations, asserting that emails released prove Clinton had no wrongdoing, framing the investigation as a distraction from the Democrats' challenges. The House Oversight Committee is also investigating the government’s handling of Epstein's case and has released thousands of pages of documents, including communications involving Trump and Clinton.

Notably, Epstein had claimed in emails that Trump was aware of his activities, but Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing or close ties to Epstein after their reported falling out in 2004. Following Trump's comments, GOP Rep.

Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized him for opposing the release of Epstein-related files, suggesting it was a political miscalculation. As the House prepares to vote on a bill to compel the release of these files, Trump’s investigation directive appears to be a strategic move to shift focus from internal political issues as well as the fallout from the government shutdown, which he attributes to Democratic failures.

Trump's actions, along with the ongoing investigations, highlight the complex web of political maneuvering surrounding Epstein's legacy and the broader implications for both parties as they navigate these controversies.