US President Donald Trump directed the Justice Department to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to mounting pressure from his own supporters for more transparency about the late, disgraced financier.Trump’s move on Thursday came after the Wall Street Journal published a story alleging that he once sent a suggestive birthday letter to Epstein. The president said the letter was “FAKE” in a social media post. He threatened to sue the paper, its parent company News Corp. and owner Rupert Murdoch, calling the story “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
The paper declined to comment on the president’s litigation threat.
In a subsequent post, Trump said that Attorney General Pam Bondi should “produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.” Bondi posted that “we are ready to move the court” on Friday “to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”The president said he made the decision “based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to” Epstein, adding “this SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”
The paper declined to comment on the president’s litigation threat.
In a subsequent post, Trump said that Attorney General Pam Bondi should “produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.” Bondi posted that “we are ready to move the court” on Friday “to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”The president said he made the decision “based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to” Epstein, adding “this SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”
The episode marks the latest turn in a saga that has created a rift among Trump’s conservative base.
Some of his allies have been demanding the administration release more records related to the Epstein sex trafficking investigation after Trump vowed to do so during the 2024 presidential campaign. The president, in turn, has lashed out, accusing them of falling for what he now calls a “hoax” surrounding Epstein that was engineered by Democrats.
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