Attorney General Discloses Probe into President's Rivals and Epstein Links
This past Friday, Pam Bondi appointed interim US attorney Jay Clayton to head an investigation into opponents of Donald Trump and their relationships with the late financier. This decision came hours after Trump ordered her to initiate the probe.
During an announcement, Bondi highlighted Clayton as “a highly skilled and reliable legal expert”. The official stated, “The department will handle this matter promptly and thoroughly to provide clarity for citizens.”
This action contrasts with a recent memorandum from federal authorities which declared that documents related to Epstein did not warrant further inquiries. As per the memo, investigators “lacked sufficient evidence to pursue cases against other parties.”
Trump Calls for Focus on Democrats in Epstein Case
The announcement coincides with increasing pressure from Trump on congressional Republicans to block the public disclosure of files concerning Epstein ahead of an key congressional decision next week. Several lawmakers are anticipated to support the release.
Newly public emails from Epstein have brought attention to the president’s previous connections with the sex trafficker, revealing information that he was more aware of Epstein’s actions than earlier acknowledged.
That same day, the President announced he would ask the Department of Justice to examine connections between Epstein and Democratic figures, specifically naming Bill Clinton, Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman. Interestingly, he also described the “Epstein hoax” as a “deception”.
Additional Updates from Friday
- The President announced he would take legal action against the BBC, despite an apology from the media outlet. He claimed the lawsuit could seek between a billion and $5bn.
- Jeffrey Epstein allegedly advised Steve Bannon during a pro-Trump effort to defend the president’s agenda. Communications made public detail Epstein’s role in advising the influencer.
- US military are planning for a divided Gaza, with a “green zone” under joint military oversight and a “red zone” left in ruins.
- Georgia prosecutor have reopened the sole ongoing legal case against Trump after naming a new lead prosecutor.
- The President changed trade measures by cutting taxes on imported goods like beef, tomatoes, coffee and bananas to combat rising costs.
- US and Switzerland reached a deal to reduce import taxes on products from Switzerland from 39% to 15%.
Other notable events included calls to protect national parks, criticism of an antisemitism watchdog, and a court approval for a resolution in the OxyContin lawsuit.