Bondi Announces Inquiry into Trump Adversaries and Epstein Ties
On Friday, the Attorney General assigned interim US attorney Jay Clayton to head an probe into political adversaries of Donald Trump and their links with Jeffrey Epstein. This action came hours after the president instructed her to begin the investigation.
In a statement, Bondi highlighted Clayton as “one of the most capable and trusted prosecutors in the country”. The official stated, “The department will handle this matter promptly and thoroughly to provide clarity for citizens.”
This action appears to contradict a July memo from federal authorities which stated that the Epstein files lacked grounds for further inquiries. As per the document, investigators “lacked sufficient evidence to pursue cases against other parties.”
Trump Demands Scrutiny of Democrats in Epstein Case
The announcement comes as growing pressure from Trump on congressional Republicans to block the full release of files concerning Epstein ahead of an upcoming House vote next week. Several lawmakers are anticipated to support the disclosure.
Newly public communications from Epstein have spotlighted Trump’s previous connections with the convicted criminal, including details that his knowledge of Epstein’s behavior exceeded prior admissions.
That same day, the President declared he would direct the Department of Justice to examine Epstein’s ties with Democrats, specifically naming prominent individuals such as Clinton, Summers, and Hoffman. Interestingly, Trump also referred to the “Epstein situation” as a “scam”.
Additional Developments from the Day
- Trump stated he would take legal action against the BBC, despite a formal apology from the media outlet. Trump claimed the lawsuit could seek billions in damages.
- Jeffrey Epstein reportedly advised former Trump aide Steve Bannon during a 2018 media campaign to support the president’s agenda. Text messages released detail his role in coaching the influencer.
- US military are developing plans for a partitioned Gaza, with a secure area under joint military oversight and a “red zone” left in ruins.
- Georgia prosecutor have revived the sole ongoing legal case against Trump after naming a new lead prosecutor.
- The President changed trade measures by reducing duties on food imports like various food items to combat rising costs.
- US and Switzerland reached a trade agreement to reduce import taxes on products from Switzerland from a significant decrease.
Other notable events featured appeals to safeguard public lands, objections of an monitoring group, and a judge’s decision for a resolution in the Purdue Pharma case.
