The U.S Department of Justice has begun a formal inquiry into the connections that several well-known public figures – including President Donald Trump – had with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision marks one of the most significant federal efforts to revisit the wide network of individuals linked to Epstein prior to his 2019 death.
According to multiple major news outlets, investigators are reviewing records, correspondence, travel documents, and other materials that may shed light on the extent of interactions various influential personalities had with Epstein over the years. Officials emphasized that the inquiry remains in its early stages and is expected to evolve as additional evidence is evaluated.
Trump responded swiftly to the announcement, publicly pressing the Justice Department to widen the scope of the probe to include two political figures he frequently criticizes: former President Bill Clinton. In a statement, Trump claimed the Clintons had deeper ties to Epstein than he did and called on federal prosecutors to examine their past interactions.
Trump’s own link to Epstein has been documented through social circles in Palm Beach and New York in the early 2000s. Archived interviews and public records show that the two were acquainted, though their relationship later deteriorated, leading to Epstein’s removal from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. Trump has consistently denied accusations that surfaced in older civil filings, and those cases were ultimately dismissed.
Bill Clinton’s past association with Epstein has likewise been the subject of public attention, particularly due to flight logs that recorded several trips aboard Epstein’s private jet, often accompanied by Secret Service security. Clinton’s office has previously stated he had cut off contact with Epstein long before the financier’s 2019 arrest and had no knowledge of his criminal activities.
The launch of the DOJ investigation comes at a time of heightened political friction, with Trump’s comments adding further intensity to the already polarized climate. Legal analysts say it is unusual for an individual connected to an active federal inquiry to publicly demand the expansion of that investigation to include political rivals.
Thus far, Justice Department officials have declined to respond to Trump’s remarks. They have indicated only that the investigation will proceed according to established legal procedures and will follow the evidence wherever it leads.
