U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House on July 15, 2025. Credit – Anna Moneymaker—Getty Images
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will ask a court to allow the release of additional documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“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,” he said on Truth Social.
Trump also said he would sue the Wall Street Journal, its parent firm News Corp, and its owner Rupert Murdoch over a report alleging that he sent a “bawdy” birthday letter in 2003 to Epstein.
The letter, which reportedly bore Trump’s name, “contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.” The report added that “a pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.” The letter reportedly concluded with: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump has denied writing the letter. “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” he told the Journal. “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
After the Journal story was published, Trump took to Truth Social. “The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,” Trump said. “Mr. Murdoch stated that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so. The Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, was told directly by Karoline Leavitt, and by President Trump, that the letter was a FAKE, but Emma Tucker didn’t want to hear that. Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway.”
The Journal report emerged at a time of heightened interest in the Epstein case. Republican lawmakers and MAGA supporters have demanded a full disclosure of the so-called Epstein files, after the Justice Department and the FBI said last week that Epstein indeed died by suicide, there was no “client list,” and no further documents would be released.
Epstein, who mingled with a range of high-profile figures, was charged in 2019 with sex trafficking. He was found dead at a correctional facility in New York while awaiting trial, which a medical examiner ruled a suicide.
But his death has fueled conspiracy theories, which Trump had also stoked for political gain while on the campaign trail.
Trump has lashed out at supporters over the Epstein saga. “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the White House cast Trump’s earlier criticisms as swipes at Democrats. The White House also tried to close the door on his role in the Epstein scandal and rejected calls for a special prosecutor to investigate the Epstein case further.
Read More: The Jeffrey Epstein Scandal Is Snowballing and Trump Can’t Seem to Stop It
Minutes after Trump’s directive on Thursday, Attorney General Bondi said on X: “We are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”
The MAGA world has expressed misgivings about the letter to Epstein. “Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullsh-t,” Vice President J.D. Vance said on X. “Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?”
Elon Musk, Trump’s former ally-turned-foe, also questioned the Journal report, as have alt-right including Laura Loomer, Jack Posobiec, Charlie Kirk, and Matt Walsh.
But Democrats and Trump critics have seized on the Journal report. “Trump’s letter to Epstein isn’t surprising. Trump is a creep,” wrote Sen. Cory Booker (D, N.J.) on X. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D, N.Y.), posted: “We need transparency now. Release the files.”
Contact us at letters@time.com.
