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On Friday, Pam Bondi assigned interim US attorney Jay Clayton to lead an investigation into opponents of the President and their links with Jeffrey Epstein. This decision came shortly after Trump instructed her to initiate the probe.

During an announcement, Bondi highlighted 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 July memo from federal authorities which indicated that documents related to Epstein did not warrant further inquiries. According to the document, authorities “did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties”

Trump Demands Focus on Political Opponents in Epstein Case

This news coincides with increasing pressure from the president on congressional Republicans to block the full release of files concerning Epstein before an key congressional decision next week. Several lawmakers are anticipated to support the disclosure.

Newly public emails from Jeffrey Epstein have highlighted the president’s previous connections with the sex trafficker, revealing details that he was more aware of Epstein’s actions than earlier acknowledged.

On Friday, Trump announced he would direct the DOJ to examine connections between Epstein and Democratic figures, including Bill Clinton, Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman. Paradoxically, Trump also described the “Epstein hoax” as a “deception”.

Other Developments from Friday

• The President stated he would take legal action against the BBC, even after a formal apology from the media outlet. He claimed the lawsuit could seek billions in damages.
• Epstein allegedly advised Steve Bannon during a pro-Trump effort to support the president’s agenda. Text messages made public detail his role in advising the influencer.
• US military are developing plans for a divided Gaza, with a secure area under joint military oversight and a restricted section unreconstructed.
• Georgia prosecutor have reopened the last remaining criminal case against Trump after naming a replacement attorney.
• The President changed tariff policy by reducing duties on food imports like beef, tomatoes, coffee and bananas to address rising costs.
• The two nations concluded a deal to reduce tariffs on products from Switzerland from a significant decrease.

Additional developments featured calls to safeguard public lands, objections of an monitoring group, and a judge’s decision for a resolution in the OxyContin lawsuit.