Amid mounting scrutiny over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to release additional documents linked to the late financier’s sex-trafficking investigation. The decision follows a Department of Justice (DOJ) memo last week stating no further records would be made public, sparking criticism even among Trump’s allies. In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump attributed his reversal to the “ridiculous amount of publicity” surrounding Epstein, directing former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek court approval for unsealing grand jury transcripts. Bondi affirmed her office is “ready to move” on the request, though specifics about the documents’ contents or release timeline remain unclear.
Epstein, who faced charges of trafficking minors in 2019, died by suicide in a New York jail before trial. His death, officially ruled as self-inflicted, has long been mired in public doubt. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in facilitating the abuse. The DOJ’s recent review concluded no formal “client list” of Epstein’s associates existed and found no evidence of blackmail, discontinuing probes into unnamed third parties. These findings conflicted with Bondi’s earlier claims that a “truckload” of disturbing FBI materials, including a purported client list, were “sitting on [her] desk.” She later clarified her remarks, stating she referenced general case files and downplayed a one-minute gap in surveillance footage from Epstein’s jail cell.
Trump’s push for transparency arrives amid renewed controversy over his past ties to Epstein. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Trump sent a lewd birthday message to Epstein in 2003, prompting the former president to threaten defamation lawsuits against the outlet and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, whom he dismissed as overseeing a “third-rate newspaper.” Trump also criticized those seeking the alleged client list, labeling believers in its existence as “stupid people” and framing it as a “Democrat hoax.”
The developments highlight persistent public and political divisions over Epstein’s case, which has spurred demands for accountability and transparency. Legal experts note that grand jury materials typically remain sealed to protect witness privacy and ongoing investigations, complicating Bondi’s efforts. As speculation swirls, the potential release of new documents could reignite debates over accountability for Epstein’s network and the handling of high-profile sexual abuse cases.
