President Donald Trump is pushing for a federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with several well-known figures after the House Oversight Committee released a large collection of Epstein’s emails on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Trump — who was referenced numerous times in the newly disclosed emails — issued a lengthy statement on Truth Social on Friday, Nov. 14. He accused Democrats of weaponizing the revelations to divert public attention away from the government’s reopening following the record-breaking shutdown.
Denying any wrongdoing himself, Trump said he is directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to ensure that the Justice Department investigates Epstein’s relationships with prominent individuals and major institutions.
“Now that the Democrats are using the Epstein Hoax, involving Democrats, not Republicans, to try and deflect from their disastrous SHUTDOWN, and all of their other failures,” Trump wrote, “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, to determine what was going on with them, and him.”
He continued, claiming there is a politically motivated effort underway: “This is another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, with all arrows pointing to the Democrats. Records show that these men, and many others, spent large portions of their life with Epstein, and on his ‘Island.’ Stay tuned!!!”
Soon after, Bondi posted on X announcing she had assigned U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton of the Southern District of New York to conduct an investigation “with urgency and integrity.”
During Bill Clinton’s presidency, Epstein — known for his wealth and extensive social connections — visited the White House multiple times, while Clinton reportedly traveled aboard Epstein’s private aircraft on several occasions. Clinton has not been linked to any criminal activity involving Epstein.
In one March 6, 2011 email, Epstein insisted that “Clinton was never on the island,” seemingly referencing Little Saint James — the site where he was accused of sexually exploiting underage girls.
Clinton’s spokesperson reiterated in a 2024 statement that the former president “has had no contact with Epstein in nearly 20 years” and referenced an earlier statement saying he knew nothing about Epstein’s crimes.
In an additional Truth Social post on Friday morning, Trump escalated his criticisms, accusing Democrats of “doing everything in their withering power to push the Epstein Hoax again” to distract from what he called the “SHUTDOWN EMBARRASSMENT.”
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He also lashed out at Republicans he deemed too passive, saying they had been manipulated by Democrats “because they are soft and foolish.”
“Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem!” Trump argued, before again naming the figures he wants investigated. “Ask Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and Larry Summers about Epstein… don’t waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!”
Although Trump has attempted to redirect scrutiny elsewhere, the now-public documents released by the committee include numerous references to him. In one message, Epstein allegedly wrote to Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump was “the dog that hasn’t barked,” adding that a victim had spent significant time around Trump yet he was “never once… mentioned.”
Epstein also allegedly told Trump biographer Michael Wolff that “of course” Trump “knew about the girls.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later asserted that the “unnamed victim” referenced in those messages was the late Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. Leavitt said Giuffre had repeatedly stated that Trump never engaged in any wrongdoing and was “friendly” during their limited interactions.
She argued that Trump distanced himself from Epstein “decades ago” and expelled him from Mar-a-Lago for inappropriate behavior toward female staff, including Giuffre. These resurfaced narratives, she said, are “bad-faith efforts to distract from President Trump’s historic accomplishments” and from the government’s reopening.
