After Epstein report, Trump tells Bondi to seek release of testimony

Former President Donald Trump has requested that Attorney General Pam Bondi seek the unsealing of grand jury testimony related to the late financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The move appears to be a response to mounting pressure for greater transparency around the case.

"Given the absurd amount of media attention surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, I’ve asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all relevant grand jury testimony, pending court approval," Trump posted Thursday night on Truth Social. "This SCAM, fueled by Democrats, must end immediately!"

Shortly afterward, Bondi echoed Trump’s remarks on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “President Trump—we’re prepared to file a motion in court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”

Trump’s comments came hours after The Wall Street Journal published a report about a 2003 birthday letter allegedly sent to Epstein, bearing Trump’s name. The letter reportedly included a crude drawing of a woman’s breasts, with “Donald” signed in the area representing pubic hair. It ended with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Trump denounced the article as false, pledging to sue both The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch. He claimed that he and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had warned the publication not to run the story and insisted the letter was a fabrication.

What Does Releasing Grand Jury Testimony Mean?
Federal grand juries are investigative panels that collect witness testimony and issue subpoenas to determine whether there’s sufficient evidence to indict. However, grand jury proceedings do not represent the full scope of an investigation—they are limited to material sufficient for an indictment.

The Justice Department is reportedly preparing a motion to request a judge’s permission to release additional grand jury material. Typically, such records are sealed to protect the privacy of victims and witnesses. A DOJ official confirmed that the filing is expected to take place in federal court in Manhattan on Friday.

Portions of testimony from a 2006 Florida grand jury investigation into Epstein have already been made public. During the 2021 trial of Ghislaine Maxwell—who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for aiding Epstein in grooming and sexually abusing underage girls—additional evidence and information came to light.

Neither Trump nor Bondi have addressed whether FBI notes or interviews conducted outside of grand jury proceedings will be disclosed. Such documents often contain more detail than what’s presented to the grand jury and could help the public better understand the scope of the case.

Public Pressure Mounts for Epstein Transparency
Trump’s latest call for disclosure comes amid increased pressure—even from within his own political base—for full transparency regarding Epstein’s connections and alleged enablers.

Last week, the Justice Department released a long-anticipated memo stating that there is no evidence Epstein maintained a “client list” or that he was murdered in jail. Alongside the memo, authorities also released 10 hours of surveillance footage from Epstein’s jail cell, which reportedly shows no one entering before his death.

The DOJ memo concluded, “This systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list.’ There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals. We did not uncover sufficient grounds to investigate uncharged third parties.”

These findings sparked outrage among many of Trump’s supporters, who had expected a more explosive revelation. Some criticized Attorney General Bondi for not taking more aggressive steps to expose the full extent of Epstein’s connections.

Even Trump’s political allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Ralph Norman (R–SC), expressed disappointment at the lack of newly released material.

Nonetheless, Trump continued to defend Bondi, stating that she was free to release any additional “credible” evidence. He also criticized certain Republicans for focusing too much on the Epstein issue, calling them “stupid and foolish,” and accused Democrats of pushing a politically motivated hoax to damage him.