Bondi follows Trump's directive, taps prosecutor to examine Epstein's Democratic ties [View all]

Source: MSNBC-Maddow Blog

With this week’s disclosures in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal adding fresh fuel to the political fire, Donald Trump took an extraordinary step on Friday morning: The president directed the Justice Department and the FBI to launch a new investigation into the case of the convicted sex offender.

Trump, however, had a narrow set of targets in mind.

Indeed, the Republican said he wanted Attorney General Pam Bondi and federal law enforcement officials to investigate his perceived Democratic foes and critics, including former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, over their alleged ties to the late millionaire pedophile.

Despite the frequency which Trump was referenced in this week’s releases of Epstein emails, the president avoided any reference to himself while demanding a new law enforcement probe.

Four hours later, Bondi did as she was told, announcing via social media that she was tapping a federal prosecutor — U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, a former Wall Street lawyer who chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term — to “take the lead” on the matter.

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