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This past Friday, the Attorney General appointed interim US attorney Jay Clayton to head an investigation into political adversaries of the President and their links with Jeffrey Epstein. This move came hours after Trump instructed her to begin the probe.

During an announcement, Bondi commended Clayton as “among the nation’s top prosecutors”. The official added, “The department will handle this matter promptly and thoroughly to provide clarity for citizens.”

This action contrasts with a recent memorandum from federal authorities which declared that the Epstein files lacked grounds for additional investigations. As per the document, investigators “lacked sufficient evidence to pursue cases against other parties.”

Trump Demands Focus on Political Opponents in the Epstein Case

The announcement comes as increasing demands from the president on congressional Republicans to block the public disclosure of files concerning Epstein before an upcoming House vote in the coming days. Many Republicans are anticipated to support the release.

Newly public emails from Jeffrey Epstein have brought attention to Trump’s past involvement with the sex trafficker, including details that he was more aware of Epstein’s actions than earlier acknowledged.

On Friday, Trump announced he would ask the Department of Justice to examine Epstein’s ties with Democrats, specifically naming prominent individuals such as Clinton, Summers, and Hoffman. Interestingly, he also referred to the “Epstein hoax” as a “deception”.

Additional Updates from the Day

• The President announced he would file a lawsuit against the BBC, even after a formal apology from the media outlet. He said the lawsuit could seek billions in damages.
• Jeffrey Epstein allegedly advised former Trump aide Steve Bannon during a pro-Trump effort to defend the president’s agenda. Text messages released show Epstein’s involvement in advising Bannon.
• American forces are planning for a partitioned Gaza, with a “green zone” under international and Israeli control and a restricted section left in ruins.
• State officials have revived the sole ongoing legal case against the President after naming a new lead prosecutor.
• Trump reversed trade measures by cutting duties on food imports like various food items to combat inflation concerns.
• US and Switzerland concluded a trade agreement to lower tariffs on products from Switzerland from a significant decrease.

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