Politics

Trump Orders Probe: How Jay Clayton Will Navigate Epstein’s Ties to Democrats and Institutions

Jay Clayton to lead Epstein probe into Dems and institutions, ordered by Trump, despite past findings.

November 15, 2025, 11:35 AM

Close-up of the sandstone exterior of the U.S. Justice Department building with the Attorney General sign.

The stone facade of the U.S. Justice Department with the "Office of the Attorney General" lettering. By Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Jay Clayton, head of the SDNY, has been assigned to lead a federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to prominent Democrats and institutions, following a directive from President Trump.

The new investigation is seen as a politically charged directive that tests the SDNY’s historical independence and blurs the line between the White House and the Justice Department.

Previous SDNY investigations found no evidence to warrant charges against uncharged third parties, and the statute of limitations for most potential crimes related to the Epstein case, apart from sex trafficking of minors, has likely expired.

The Story So Far

The new federal investigation into financier Jeffrey Epstein’s connections is a direct result of President Trump’s explicit directive to Attorney General Pam Bondi, instructing her to probe specific Democrats and institutions. This politically charged assignment challenges the Southern District of New York’s historical independence, particularly as previous Justice Department reviews during President Trump’s first administration had found no evidence to warrant investigations against uncharged third parties.

Why This Matters

President Trump’s explicit directive for a new federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s connections, led by the SDNY, significantly challenges the office’s historical independence and blurs the line between the White House and the Justice Department. This politically charged inquiry, which comes despite previous Justice Department reviews finding no evidence for further charges, could also provide grounds for the Justice Department to halt the public release of Epstein case files, raising questions about the motivations and potential outcomes of the renewed probe.

Who Thinks What?

President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi believe a new federal investigation is warranted to probe Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to prominent Democrats and institutions, explicitly directing the inquiry towards specific individuals and entities.

SDNY alumni, former prosecutors, and previous Justice Department findings express exasperation over the politically charged nature of the new inquiry, citing the SDNY’s historical independence, prior reviews that found no evidence for further charges against uncharged third parties, and concerns about expired statutes of limitations.

Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), has been tapped to spearhead a federal investigation into financier Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to prominent Democrats and institutions. The assignment, announced late Friday by Attorney General Pam Bondi on X, followed an explicit directive from President Trump on Truth Social, instructing Bondi to probe Epstein’s relationships with figures such as Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, and financial entities like JPMorgan Chase.

The Directive and Its Implications

The move marks a significant test for the SDNY’s historical independence, with some alumni of the office reportedly expressing exasperation over the politically charged nature of the new inquiry. This directive comes despite previous assertions from the Justice Department and the FBI in July that a “systematic review” of case files found no evidence to warrant investigations against uncharged third parties.

The assignment is perceived as the latest instance of a US attorney’s office being tasked with fulfilling President Trump’s political desires, further blurring the line that has historically separated the White House from the Justice Department.

Previous Investigations and Findings

SDNY prosecutors during President Trump’s first administration previously investigated Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, for sex trafficking minors. Sources familiar with that probe indicated that dozens of survivors were interviewed, but no evidence was found to support charges against anyone else at the time.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell was subsequently convicted of sex trafficking girls and is currently serving a 20-year sentence. Geoffrey Berman, who served as US attorney for SDNY during the original charges against Epstein, stated in 2022 that if a chargeable case existed against anyone else, it would have been pursued.

Prosecutors also sought to interview Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who had been accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre, but his lawyers rebuffed their attempts. Mountbatten-Windsor denied involvement and later settled with Giuffre.

Legal Context and Challenges

The renewed investigation targets specific individuals and institutions, including JPMorgan Chase. The bank previously settled class-action lawsuits totaling $290 million with Epstein’s survivors and $75 million with the US Virgin Islands in 2023, without admitting wrongdoing, over allegations it ignored red flags regarding Epstein’s financial activities.

Former prosecutors suggest that the statute of limitations has likely expired for most potential crimes related to the Epstein case, apart from sex trafficking of minors. Recent document releases from the House Oversight Committee, while containing references to Trump and Clinton, have not indicated criminal activity by them.

The timing of the reopened investigation could potentially provide the Justice Department grounds to halt the public release of its Epstein case files, citing an ongoing inquiry.

Jay Clayton’s Role at SDNY

Clayton, a former partner at Sullivan & Cromwell and chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission during President Trump’s first term, assumed leadership of the SDNY earlier this year. His appointment, though not advanced by the Senate, was approved by district judges in August.

Since taking over, Clayton has maintained a low profile but has faced challenges within the office. These include managing a public exodus of experienced prosecutors and the controversial firing of Maurene Comey, a prosecutor who worked on the earlier Epstein and Maxwell investigations.

Outlook on the Investigation

The renewed federal probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s network places the Southern District of New York and its leader, Jay Clayton, at the center of a politically sensitive investigation. It highlights ongoing tensions regarding the Justice Department’s independence and its response to presidential directives, particularly concerning a case that has already undergone extensive scrutiny.