 "Release Epstein testimony: Trump tells justice department after ‘ridiculous amount of publicity’")
US President Donald Trump on Friday asked the attorney-general to release the grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein’s case, as his administration came under immense pressure over the handling of the classified files related to the notorious sex offender.
“Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!” Trump said on Truth Social.
Bondi, in response to Trump’s direction, said, “President Trump — we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”
The president’s orders came hours after he slammed the Wall Street Journal and threatened to sue it for releasing "fake" letters that Trump allegedly sent to Epstein in 2003.
In recent days, the White House has faced growing backlash from parts of the president’s MAGA base over the administration’s handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s death and his alleged ‘client list.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 – during Trump’s first term – after being charged with sex trafficking in a scheme where he allegedly groomed young and underage women for sexual abuse by the rich and powerful.
In February, Bondi said that the list of Epstein’s clients was “sitting on my desk right not to review it” after Trump promised to release them during his presidential campaign.
Impact Shorts
View AllWhat does the letter say?
The Journal story, which quickly reverberated around the US capital, says the note to Epstein bearing Trump’s signature was part of a collection of notes for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. The newspaper says it reviewed the letter but did not print an image.
The alleged letter, which Trump denies writing, is raunchy, as were others in the collection, the Journal reported. It contains several lines of typewritten text, contained in an outline of a naked woman drawn with a marker.
“The future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,” the Journal reported.
“The letter concludes: ‘Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.’”
Trump supporters burn Maga hats
While Trump faced flak from within his team over the delay in releasing the files, his backers outside the political circles burned Maga hats in expression of discontent.
Most Americans think President Donald Trump’s administration is hiding information about accused sex-trafficker and give it poor marks on the issue after pledging to make public documents in the case, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
The two-day poll, which closed Wednesday, showed 69 per cent of respondents thought the federal government was hiding details about Epstein’s clients, compared to 6 per cent who disagreed and about one in four who said they weren’t sure.
With inputs from agencies
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