November 14, 2025
Trump weaponizes DOJ to investigate political opponents despite FBI finding no evidence to support charges
Attorney General 
Pam Bondi announced on Nov. 14, 2025, that she assigned Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to lead an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's ties to Trump political foes, including former President Bill Clinton, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and JPMorgan Chase. Bondi posted on X that Clayton is 'one of the most capable and trusted prosecutors in the country' and said the Justice Department 'will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people.' The announcement came hours after Trump demanded the probe on Truth Social.
Trump posted on Truth Social on Nov. 14 that he would ask Bondi, the Justice Department, and the FBI to investigate Epstein's 'involvement and relationship' with Clinton, Summers, Hoffman, JPMorgan Chase, and 'many other people and institutions, to determine what was going on with them, and him.' Trump didn't explain what supposed crimes he wanted investigated.
None of the men he mentioned has been accused of sexual misconduct by any of Epstein's victims. Trump was friends with Epstein for years and has been scrutinized for that relationship, though he also has never been accused of misconduct by Epstein's known victims.
An FBI memo from Jul. 2025 stated: 'We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.' The Justice Department and FBI conducted a systematic review of the Epstein case files and found no basis for criminal charges against people beyond those already prosecuted. Despite this finding, Bondi ordered the investigation just four months later at Trump's direction, raising questions about whether the probe is politically motivated rather than based on evidence of crimes.
Jay Clayton served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021 and took over as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York in Apr. 2025. The Southern District is the same office that indicted Epstein in 2019 and won a sex trafficking conviction against Epstein's longtime confidante Ghislaine Maxwell in 2021. Clayton was never a prosecutor before taking over the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office and previously worked as a partner at law firm Sullivan & Cromwell specializing in corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Clayton's confirmation as U.S. attorney has been stalled by Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who invoked the Senate 'blue slip' tradition to block the nominee. After Clayton's 120-day interim term expired, Manhattan's federal court judges retained him in the role until the Senate could confirm someone. As he leads the Epstein probe, Clayton will lack the help of at least one SDNY prosecutor who worked on the prosecutions of Epstein and Maxwell: former prosecutor Maurene Comey, the daughter of ex-FBI Director James Comey, who was abruptly fired from the office earlier in 2025.
Clinton's deputy chief of staff Angel Ureña posted on X on Nov. 14: 'These emails prove Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing
The rest is noise meant to distract from election losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else.' Clinton has acknowledged traveling on Epstein's private jet but has said through a spokesperson that he had no knowledge of the financier's crimes
He has never been accused of misconduct by Epstein's known victims The House Oversight Committee released over 23,000 pages of documents from Epstein's estate earlier in the week, but nothing in the messages suggested wrongdoing by Clinton or the others Trump named.
Reid Hoffman bankrolled writer E
Jean Carroll's sexual abuse and defamation lawsuit against Trump, which resulted in Trump being ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages
After Epstein's sex trafficking arrest in 2019, Hoffman said he'd only had a few interactions with Epstein, all related to his fundraising for MIT's Media Lab He apologized, saying 'by agreeing to participate in any fundraising activity where Epstein was present, I helped to repair his reputation and perpetuate injustice.' Hoffman's financial support for Carroll's lawsuit against Trump provides a clear political motive for Trump's demand to investigate him.
The president's demand for an investigation and Bondi's quick acquiescence represent the latest example of erosion of the Justice Department's traditional independence from the White House since Trump took office in Jan. 2025
It's also an extraordinary attempt at deflection, coming the same week House Republicans released over 23,000 pages of Epstein documents and House Democrats seized on emails mentioning Trump
Trump is using the Justice Department to investigate his political enemies while facing questions about his own decades-long friendship with Epstein This marks a continuation of Trump's pattern of weaponizing federal law enforcement against perceived adversaries.
Complete the sentence about prosecutorial authority.
Jay Clayton had been a career federal prosecutor before SDNY.
The July 2025 FBI memo found evidence to open investigations into the named men.
Which action would directly check Bondi's decision to assign Clayton?
Which civic action targets DOJ politicization directly?
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U.S. Attorney General
President of the United States
Manhattan U.S. Attorney (Southern District of New York)
Former President of the United States
LinkedIn Co-founder, Venture Capitalist
Former Treasury Secretary, Former Harvard President
Senate Democratic Minority Leader
Former SDNY Prosecutor (daughter of James Comey)
civic action
Demand House Oversight Committee subpoena AG Bondi over Epstein investigation scope
Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered a criminal investigation of Jeffrey Epstein ties to Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and JPMorgan Chase on November 14, 2025, at President Trump urging. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton assigned to lead probe, but Trump did not specify what crimes were being investigated despite his own long friendship with Epstein. House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Bondi on March 4, 2026, demanding transparency about whether investigation includes Trump own Epstein connections.
Hello, I am [NAME], a constituent from [CITY/STATE]. I am calling to demand the House Oversight Committee subpoena AG Bondi about the Epstein investigation scope and potential political bias. Key concerns: AG Bondi ordered Epstein investigation on November 14, 2025, targeting only Trump political foes. Investigation focuses on Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and JPMorgan Chase. Trump was friends with Epstein for years but did not specify what crimes to investigate. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton assigned to lead probe. House Oversight voted to subpoena Bondi on March 4, 2026. Questions to ask: Will the committee demand the investigation include Trump own Epstein connections? What specific crimes is the Justice Department investigating? How will the committee ensure the investigation is not politically motivated? Specific request: I demand that the committee use its subpoena power to compel AG Bondi to testify about the investigation scope, timeline, and whether it includes all Epstein connections regardless of political affiliation. Question: What steps will the committee take to prevent political weaponization of the Justice Department? Thank you for your time.
civic action
Contact Senate Judiciary Committee about DOJ independence
Demand oversight hearings on the Justice Department's independence and politically motivated investigations
Hi, I'm calling to demand Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearings on the Justice Department's independence.
Key points to mention:
Questions to ask:
Specific request: I want the Judiciary Committee to hold oversight hearings on the politically motivated Epstein investigation and subpoena AG Bondi and U.S. Attorney Clayton to testify under oath about the evidence supporting this probe.
Thank you for your time.
civic action
Support organizations defending DOJ independence
Donate to or volunteer with groups working to protect the Justice Department from political interference