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On Friday, Pam Bondi designated Jay Clayton to oversee an inquiry into opponents of the President and their links with the late financier. This move came just after the president directed her to initiate the probe.

During an announcement, the Attorney General commended Clayton as “a highly skilled and reliable legal expert”. She remarked, “As with all matters, the department will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people.”

This action appears to contradict a recent memorandum from justice department officials which declared that documents related to Epstein did not warrant additional investigations. According to the memo, investigators “found no proof justifying probes into uncharged individuals”

Trump Demands Scrutiny of Political Opponents in Epstein Matter

This news comes as growing demands from Trump on lawmakers to resist the full release of Epstein-related documents before an key congressional decision in the coming days. Many Republicans are anticipated to back the release.

Newly public emails from Epstein have highlighted the president’s past involvement with the sex trafficker, including information that he was more aware of Epstein’s actions than earlier acknowledged.

On Friday, Trump declared he would direct the Department of Justice to examine Epstein’s ties with Democrats, including Bill Clinton, Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman. Interestingly, he also described the “Epstein hoax” as a “scam”.

Additional Developments from Friday

• Trump announced he would take legal action against the BBC, even after a formal apology from the network. He said the lawsuit could seek billions in damages.
• Jeffrey Epstein reportedly guided former Trump aide Steve Bannon during a 2018 media campaign to support Trump’s policies. Communications released show Epstein’s involvement in coaching Bannon.
• American forces are developing plans for a partitioned Gaza, with a “green zone” under international and Israeli control and a “red zone” unreconstructed.
• State officials have revived the last remaining criminal case against the President after appointing a replacement attorney.
• The President reversed tariff policy by cutting duties on imported goods like various food items to combat inflation concerns.
• The two nations reached a deal to reduce tariffs on products from Switzerland from 39% to 15%.

Additional developments featured calls to protect national parks, criticism of an antisemitism watchdog, and a judge’s decision for a resolution in the Purdue Pharma lawsuit.