Manhattan U.S. Attorney gets first big test ahead of EPSTEIN files drop

Sunday, November 23, 2025 -Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton now faces a politically charged and high-stakes challenge: overseeing an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to prominent Democratic figures, following a directive from Attorney General Pam Bondi at President Trump’s urging. 

What makes the situation even more delicate is Clayton’s own background — he’s never prosecuted a criminal case and previously represented at least one of those now under scrutiny.

Inside his office, the mood is tense. Some prosecutors are visibly uncomfortable with the political overtones of the assignment, especially as they weigh whether Clayton should recuse himself because of past professional ties. 

Meanwhile, he hasn’t yet named a team to handle the probe — a critical step given that reservations linger about how to proceed without undermining the office’s independence.

What adds fuel to the fire is the imminent release of tens of thousands of Epstein‑related documents by the Justice Department, a mandate from Congress. The legislation allows some withholding — but only narrowly, if there’s a genuine risk to ongoing investigations. 

Observers wonder whether Clayton’s probe could be used to justify keeping certain politically damaging materials under wraps — and whether he can thread that needle without compromising both justice and public trust.