United States | News & Politics

Multiple federal law enforcement officials who spoke to Rolling Stone on the condition of anonymity say that Jeffrey Epstein hired private investigators to follow, intimidate, and surveil FBI special agents investigating allegations that he paid underage women for sex. The FBI declined Rolling Stone’s request for comment.

These new allegations about the pressure exerted on the FBI come after internal divisions in Donald Trump’s administration exploded into public view last week over its handling of files and information pertaining to the disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker.

Reports across several media outlets describe a tense meeting between deputy FBI director Dan Bongino, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other officials. According to reports, that meeting ended with Bongino storming out. Bongino is now reportedly considering resigning from his post at the FBI.