President Donald Trump has instructed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's connections to several high-profile Democrats and institutions, framing it as a response to what he calls "hoax" claims linking him to the late financier. In a post on Truth Social on November 14, 2025, Trump named former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and JPMorgan Chase as targets, alleging they had significant ties to Epstein, including visits to his infamous island. None of these individuals or entities have been accused of sexual misconduct by Epstein's victims, and the move comes just as the House prepares to vote on a bipartisan bill to declassify Epstein's case files.Attorney General Pam Bondi swiftly confirmed the probe, announcing on X that she has tasked Southern District of New York (SDNY) U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton with leading the effort. "SDNY U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton is one of the most capable and trusted prosecutors in the country, and I’ve asked him to take the lead," Bondi stated. "As with all matters, the Department will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people." This development follows the DOJ's July 2025 statement that no further evidence warranted additional investigations or charges related to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.The timing has fueled speculation that the investigation could serve as a pretext to withhold documents under exemptions for ongoing probes, potentially derailing the release of Epstein's files. Critics, including legal experts and social media users, argue it's a cover-up, especially given Trump's own documented associations with Epstein—records show Trump is mentioned more frequently in recently released Epstein emails than the figures he's targeting. One X user remarked, "Funny that the one person who is not being investigated is Donald Trump himself, the person mentioned the most in the Epstein emails." Another added, "Trump's order to DoJ to re-open the Epstein investigation is the excuse he will give to veto the bill to release the Epstein files."Trump has long distanced himself from Epstein, claiming he banned him from Mar-a-Lago after learning of his behavior and that their relationship soured years ago. However, past comments, like calling Epstein a "terrific guy" in a 2002 interview, have resurfaced amid the scrutiny. The president dismissed recent Epstein-related attacks as politically motivated, stating in his post, "Now that Democrats are using Epstein...we will be directing the DOJ and FBI to investigate Epstein’s involvement with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan Chase, and many others." This follows Democrats deleting a social media post that falsely implied a closer Trump-Epstein tie based on misinterpreted emails.Supporters view the probe as a necessary step toward transparency. One X post celebrated, "The good news is the DOJ just launched a full investigation into Epstein and everyone that associated with him after Trump kicked him out of Mar a Lago for being a pedophile." Others, however, decry it as weaponizing the DOJ against political opponents, with comments like, "This has absolutely nothing to do with crime. Pam Bondi is just debasing her entire department for her liege so that she can stave off Congress from releasing whatever damning information she has on Trump."The bipartisan bill, set for a House vote next week, aims to compel the DOJ to release Epstein's files, which reportedly include thousands of pages of investigative materials. If passed, it could force disclosure despite the new probe, though legal battles over redactions loom. As one analyst noted, "No, Trump’s request...does not legally prevent the files from being released publicly. However, it creates a practical and political hurdle."This saga revives long-standing questions about Epstein's network, which spanned finance, politics, and academia. With Bondi's DOJ now involved, the investigation's scope—and whether it expands to include Trump allies—will be closely watched. Victims' advocates urge focus on justice over politics, emphasizing the need for full transparency.