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The Donald Trump administration announced on Friday its intent to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein.
This move comes as the US president attempts to counter ongoing political fallout concerning his administration’s handling of the late financier’s sex trafficking case.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Justice Department would ask a court to unseal the grand jury transcripts.
This development follows renewed scrutiny of Trump’s past relationship with Epstein, spurred by an alleged “off-colour” letter published by the Wall Street Journal.
Trump vehemently denied the letter’s authenticity, calling it a “scam” and threatening to sue “the ass off” the WSJ and its owner, Rupert Murdoch.
The US president has been facing criticism over his past ties to Epstein and accusations that his administration is concealing details of Epstein’s crimes to protect influential figures.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019, during Trump’s first term, after being charged with federal sex trafficking for allegedly grooming young women for abuse by his wealthy contacts.
He was previously a registered sex offender in Florida due to prior prostitution-related convictions.
The Alleged Letter and Trump’s Response
The Wall Street Journal article describes the alleged letter, featuring a sketch of a naked woman and Trump’s signature, as part of a collection of notes for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. While the newspaper reviewed the letter, it did not publish an image.
“I told Rupert Murdoch it was a scam, that he shouldn’t print this fake story,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “But he did, and now I’m going to sue his ass off and that of his third-rate newspaper.”
He previously claimed that WSJ editor-in-chief Emma Tucker was directly informed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and himself that the letter was “FAKE,” labelling the story “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
Trump’s team seeks Epstein document release.
Credit: The Guardian
Seeking Grand Jury Transparency
On Thursday evening, Trump announced on Truth Social, “Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to court approval.”
Shortly after, Bondi confirmed on social media that the Justice Department would seek to unseal the grand jury transcripts in court on Friday.
The success of this motion remains uncertain given the strict secrecy surrounding such transcripts. Bondi wrote, “President Trump—we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”
The Journal reported that the alleged letter is “raunchy,” similar to others in the collection. It contains typewritten text within an outline of a naked woman, with “the future president’s signature… below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.”
The letter reportedly concludes: “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump denied authorship, telling the Journal, “This is not me. This is a fake thing… I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
Broader Fallout and Dismissal of Conspiracy Theories
The Epstein scandal has long been a focal point for the Trump-supporting far-right, which has fueled conspiracy theories about a secret client list and claims that Epstein was murdered.
While some supporters expected Trump to address these theories upon his return to office, a recent memo from the Justice Department and FBI, made public this month, refuted claims of a “client list” or blackmail, reaffirmed Epstein’s suicide, and stated no more information would be released on the probe. This stance could change if grand jury testimony or evidence is released.
Adding to the controversy, US media reported on Thursday that Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor on Epstein’s case and daughter of former FBI director James Comey, was abruptly fired on Wednesday from her position as an assistant US attorney in Manhattan.
Politicians have also weighed in, with Vice President JD Vance tweeting that the WSJ “should be ashamed” for publishing the story, while Democratic lawmaker Pat Ryan commented, “I think we now know EXACTLY why Donald Trump refuses to release the Epstein files.”
