WASHINGTON: Democrats on Thursday accused US President Donald Trump and his officials of a “massive cover-up” in handling files tied to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, vowing an aggressive investigation while separately demanding the president testify about his own links to the disgraced financier.

The twin-fronted political assault escalated the long-simmering battle over transparency surrounding the Epstein case.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the US Department of Justice of unlawfully shielding the president, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton challenged a Republican-led congressional probe to call on Trump himself.

“Let me be blunt, there is a massive cover up going on in the Justice Department to protect Donald Trump and people associated with Jeffrey Epstein,” Schumer told reporters.

Claims DOJ unlawfully hid files to shield Trump; Hillary Clinton dares GOP panel to make Trump testify under oath

He specifically accused the department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, of illegally withholding documents. “President Trump — what are you trying to hide?”

The latest conflict follows reports that FBI interview summaries regarding a woman’s sexual assault allegations against Trump from the 1980s, when she was a minor, were not among recently released government files.

Schumer said his party would review unredacted records and consult with legal experts, victims’ attorneys and whistleblowers to determine how the Justice Department flouted a transparency law. He issued a stern warning to the administration.

“Pam Bondi should listen carefully. The truth will come out — the whole ugly, ugly truth about what she’s doing to protect people in the files will come out,” Schumer said. He also cautioned officials against destroying evidence, adding, “We will know if you are destroying documents.”

Hillary’s deposition

Meanwhile, in Chappaqua, New York, Hillary Clinton used her required appearance before a Republican-led House panel to turn the tables on her inquisitors. During a deposition, she called on the committee to subpoena the president.

“If this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes…it would ask [Trump] directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files,” Clinton said.

The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer, is probing individuals linked to Epstein. He and former President Bill Clinton were initially subpoenaed and agreed to testify after Republicans threatened contempt of Congress proceedings. Bill Clinton is scheduled to be deposed on Friday.

Hillary Clinton told the panel she had no information about Epstein’s crimes.

The deposition was briefly halted Thursday after a photo of Clinton, apparently taken during the proceeding and credited to Republican committee member Rep. Lauren Boebert, was posted on social media, prompting a discussion among lawyers over the rules violation.

WEF chief steps down

The repercussions of the Epstein scandal are also being felt in international organisations, where the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, said on Thursday he was stepping down.

The announcement came weeks after the forum launched an independent investigation into Brende’s relationship with Epstein.

Brende, who became president of the WEF in 2017, announced his decision in a statement following US Justice Department disclosures that showed the Norwegian had three business dinners with Epstein and communicated with the disgraced financier.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2026