The mug shot of Jeffrey Epstein, 2019. Credit – Kypros/Getty Images
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday asked a federal judge to release the transcripts of grand jury testimony made against Jeffrey Epstein years ago, as the Trump Administration faces a wave of criticism from lawmakers and the public over its handling of the late sex offender’s case.
The move comes after President Donald Trump said he asked Attorney General Pam Bondi “to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,” amid the heightened interest in the Epstein case. In its filing, the DOJ writes that even after it and the FBI concluded their review of the case, “the public’s interest in the Epstein matter has remained.”
“Given this longstanding and legitimate interest, the government now moves to unseal grand jury transcripts associated with Epstein,” the filing reads. It adds that officials will “redact all victim-identifying information” before releasing any documents.
The renewed interest in the case involving the convicted sex offender and disgraced billionaire financier began earlier this month, after the DOJ and FBI released a memo in which investigators concluded that Epstein didn’t have a “client list” of co-conspirators and that his 2019 death in jail was a suicide. Epstein has been the subject of conspiracy theories for years, particularly among Trump’s MAGA supporters.
Trump and his Administration have since tried to dismiss concerns about the Epstein case, sparking anger and frustration from many of the President’s own supporters over how he has handled the matter. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for transparency, demanding a full disclosure of the Epstein files.
Read more: Why Trump Can’t Put Out the Epstein Fire He Helped Ignite
Amid the outcry, Trump’s years-long relationship with Epstein has drawn heightened attention. The request by the DOJ comes on the same day that Trump filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal’s parent firms Dow Jones and News Corp, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters after the Journal published an article alleging that Trump sent a “bawdy” letter to Epstein in 2003. Trump has denied writing the letter, telling the Journal, “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
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