Former President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. Justice Department to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Given the excessive media attention around Epstein, I’ve asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all relevant grand jury records, subject to court approval,” Trump stated.
While it remains unclear if Trump is calling for public release of the documents, such action would require legal clearance. The move follows a report by The Wall Street Journal alleging that Trump’s name appeared in a provocative birthday message sent to Epstein in 2003. Trump dismissed the letter as “fake,” vowing legal action against the publication and calling the article “false and defamatory.”
The Journal described the note as featuring a hand-drawn naked woman, with typed text suggesting a fictional exchange between Trump and Epstein. Trump responded online, “These are not my words. I don’t talk like this, and I certainly don’t draw pictures.”
The birthday greeting was reportedly part of a compilation organized by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, who is now serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
Attorney General Bondi announced her intent to move the court to unseal the documents. However, it remains uncertain whether the grand jury materials pertain to Epstein’s 2006 Florida case or his 2019 federal charges.
Trump’s order follows pressure from conservative figures demanding transparency. While Bondi recently downplayed claims of a client list, Trump’s new directive appears aimed at restoring credibility among his base.
