Trump Calls for Release of Epstein Grand Jury Materials
President Donald Trump has called for the release of grand jury materials related to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This came after an article published in The Wall Street Journal highlighted a letter bearing Trump’s name that was included in a 2003 birthday album for the disgraced financier. In a social media post on Thursday night, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to “produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.” Bondi responded by stating she was ready to ask a court on Friday to unseal the grand jury transcripts.
The push to release Epstein-related documents has become a significant rallying point for many of Trump’s top allies during the Biden administration and the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump, who had previously socialized with Epstein, stated during the campaign that he would release additional details about the investigation. However, the Justice Department recently caused controversy when it claimed in a memo that no list of Epstein’s clients or additional documents warranting public disclosure were found.
Far-right media figures have long alleged a government coverup in the case of Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking. Some of Trump’s most prominent supporters have called for Bondi’s resignation, but Trump has continued to support her.
Grand jury testimony is typically protected by secrecy laws and faces high hurdles for public release. It only constitutes a portion of the Epstein-related materials in the government’s possession. Hundreds of FBI employees have worked long shifts this year examining such material for possible release.
In a previous court filing, prosecutor Maurene Comey outlined a range of government records, including witness statements, background materials, law-enforcement interviews, business records, grand jury subpoenas, and internal FBI analyses. She asked a judge not to release these records, arguing that their disclosure could impact any potential retrial of Epstein confidante Ghislaine Maxwell. A judge in 2024 denied a Freedom of Information Act request to make the records public.
On Wednesday, the Justice Department fired Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, who was involved in the prosecutions of Epstein and Maxwell. Earlier this week, Trump criticized his own supporters for opposing his administration’s decision not to release more material from the investigation, accusing them of buying into a Democratic narrative.
In a separate social media post on Thursday night, Trump threatened to sue The Wall Street Journal for publishing the article, calling it “false, malicious, and defamatory.” He also planned to sue News Corp, the parent company of Dow Jones, which publishes the Journal, as well as Rupert Murdoch, the chair emeritus of News Corp. A News Corp spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
The Journal reported that Epstein’s then-aide Maxwell collected letters from Trump and dozens of Epstein’s other associates for a 2003 birthday album. The letter bearing Trump’s name contained several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. It ends with “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump claimed the letter referenced in the article was “a FAKE” and accused the press of relying on sources that probably don’t exist. Tucker declined to comment through a spokeswoman. Vice President JD Vance also criticized the article on X, calling it “complete and utter bull—” and questioning where the letter was. Elon Musk, the billionaire former Trump adviser, cast doubt on the story, suggesting the language in the birthday letter didn’t sound like Trump’s voice.
House Republicans advanced a plan to hold a vote at some point in the future on a nonbinding resolution calling for the release of Epstein-related files. Rep. Thomas Massie is leading a separate effort, which has both Republican and Democratic co-sponsors, to force a vote on a binding measure demanding the release of Epstein materials.
Democrats have criticized Trump for his handling of the Epstein documents, with Rep. Pat Ryan (D., N.Y.) stating, “I think we now know EXACTLY why Donald Trump refuses to release the Epstein files.”
