Attorney General Announces Investigation into Trump Rivals and Epstein Links
On Friday, the Attorney General designated interim US attorney Jay Clayton to lead an inquiry into opponents of the President and their relationships with the late financier. This action came hours after Trump instructed her to launch the probe.
During an announcement, Bondi praised Jay Clayton as “one of the most capable and trusted prosecutors in the country”. She stated, “The department will handle this matter promptly and thoroughly to provide clarity for citizens.”
This development contrasts with a July memo from federal authorities which declared that documents related to Epstein lacked grounds for additional investigations. According to the document, investigators “lacked sufficient evidence to pursue cases against other parties.”
The President Calls for Focus on Political Opponents in the Epstein Case
The announcement comes as growing pressure from the president on lawmakers to block the public disclosure of Epstein-related documents before an key congressional decision in the coming days. Many Republicans are anticipated to support the disclosure.
Newly public emails from Epstein have spotlighted Trump’s previous connections with the sex trafficker, including details that his knowledge of Epstein’s behavior exceeded prior admissions.
On Friday, Trump announced he would ask the Department of Justice to examine connections between Epstein and Democratic figures, specifically naming prominent individuals such as Clinton, Summers, and Hoffman. Interestingly, Trump also referred to the “Epstein hoax” as a “scam”.
Other Updates from the Day
- Trump announced he would file a lawsuit against the British broadcaster, despite a formal apology from the network. Trump said the legal case could seek between a billion and $5bn.
- Epstein allegedly guided Steve Bannon during a pro-Trump effort to support Trump’s policies. Communications released show his involvement in coaching the influencer.
- US military are developing plans for a divided Gaza, with a “green zone” under international and Israeli control and a restricted section unreconstructed.
- Georgia prosecutor have revived the last remaining criminal case against Trump after naming a new lead prosecutor.
- Trump changed tariff policy by cutting taxes on imported goods like various food items to address rising costs.
- The two nations concluded a deal to reduce tariffs on Swiss goods from a significant decrease.
Additional developments featured appeals to protect national parks, criticism of an monitoring group, and a court approval for a settlement in the Purdue Pharma lawsuit.
