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| Trump admin asks court to release Jeffrey Epstein grand jury docs | Trump admin asks court to release Jeffrey Epstein grand jury docs |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The US justice department has asked a judge to unseal material related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following intense criticism of the Trump administration's handling of the case. | The US justice department has asked a judge to unseal material related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following intense criticism of the Trump administration's handling of the case. |
| The request concerns transcripts from the grand jury involved in the government's 2019 sex trafficking case against Epstein, materials that are typically kept secret and protected by law. | The request concerns transcripts from the grand jury involved in the government's 2019 sex trafficking case against Epstein, materials that are typically kept secret and protected by law. |
| The court filing came as Trump filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal's parent company, its owner Rupert Murdoch and two reporters, over a story claiming he wrote a "bawdy" personal note to Epstein in 2003. | The court filing came as Trump filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal's parent company, its owner Rupert Murdoch and two reporters, over a story claiming he wrote a "bawdy" personal note to Epstein in 2003. |
| Trump said the note, which the paper reported he'd sent for Epstein's 50th birthday, is "fake". | Trump said the note, which the paper reported he'd sent for Epstein's 50th birthday, is "fake". |
| On Thursday, he ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of documents related to Epstein's secretive grand jury testimony. | On Thursday, he ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of documents related to Epstein's secretive grand jury testimony. |
| The justice department formally made the request to a judge in New York, arguing the materials related to the case - where he was charged with trafficking dozens of girls as young as 14 - "qualify as a matter of public interest". | The justice department formally made the request to a judge in New York, arguing the materials related to the case - where he was charged with trafficking dozens of girls as young as 14 - "qualify as a matter of public interest". |
| The department is also asking for disclosures in the case of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in the child sex trafficking conspiracy. | The department is also asking for disclosures in the case of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in the child sex trafficking conspiracy. |
| A grand jury - a panel of people who vet whether there is enough evidence to charge a person with a crime - can hear from confidential informants and those whose identities are protected for their safety. Materials in a grand jury are typically kept secret under the law, but a judge can unseal documents if they decide public interest outweighs the need for such legal protections in a case. | A grand jury - a panel of people who vet whether there is enough evidence to charge a person with a crime - can hear from confidential informants and those whose identities are protected for their safety. Materials in a grand jury are typically kept secret under the law, but a judge can unseal documents if they decide public interest outweighs the need for such legal protections in a case. |
| Either way, it's unclear when or if documents will be released, or if they contain many of the details Trump's supporters have been demanding. | Either way, it's unclear when or if documents will be released, or if they contain many of the details Trump's supporters have been demanding. |
| Why the Epstein case looms large in MAGA world | Why the Epstein case looms large in MAGA world |
| Trump's voters want to see the Epstein files - but have faith in their president | Trump's voters want to see the Epstein files - but have faith in their president |
| Also on Friday, Trump filed a $10bn (£7.5bn) lawsuit in Miami against Dow Jones, News Corp and conservative media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. | Also on Friday, Trump filed a $10bn (£7.5bn) lawsuit in Miami against Dow Jones, News Corp and conservative media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. |
| He claims the Wall Street Journal slandered him and violated libel laws in an article alleging that a "bawdy" birthday greeting bearing Trump's name was sent to Epstein in 2003, before the late financier was charged with sex crimes. | He claims the Wall Street Journal slandered him and violated libel laws in an article alleging that a "bawdy" birthday greeting bearing Trump's name was sent to Epstein in 2003, before the late financier was charged with sex crimes. |
| "We have just filed a powerhouse Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, fake news 'article' in the useless 'rag' that is, The Wall Street Journal," Trump said on social media. | "We have just filed a powerhouse Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, fake news 'article' in the useless 'rag' that is, The Wall Street Journal," Trump said on social media. |
| "I hope Rupert and his 'friends' are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case," he added. | "I hope Rupert and his 'friends' are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case," he added. |
| He said the newspaper and Murdoch - with whom Trump has had an up-and-down relationship for decades - were warned they would be sued if they printed the article. | He said the newspaper and Murdoch - with whom Trump has had an up-and-down relationship for decades - were warned they would be sued if they printed the article. |
| Murdoch, who was seen on Sunday attending the Fifa World Cup with Trump, founded a media empire which is credited by some with helping propel the president to the White House. | Murdoch, who was seen on Sunday attending the Fifa World Cup with Trump, founded a media empire which is credited by some with helping propel the president to the White House. |
| Trump and Murdoch appeared together in the Oval Office in February 2025 | Trump and Murdoch appeared together in the Oval Office in February 2025 |
| According to the Journal, a letter bearing Trump's name "contained several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker". | According to the Journal, a letter bearing Trump's name "contained several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker". |
| "Inside the outline of the naked woman was a typewritten note styled as an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein, written in the third person," the paper reported. | "Inside the outline of the naked woman was a typewritten note styled as an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein, written in the third person," the paper reported. |
| It reportedly contains a joking reference that "Enigmas never age" and allegedly ends with the words: "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret." | It reportedly contains a joking reference that "Enigmas never age" and allegedly ends with the words: "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret." |
| Trump denied writing the note after the article was published on Thursday, posting: "These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures." | Trump denied writing the note after the article was published on Thursday, posting: "These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures." |
| Watch: How are Americans reacting to Trump's handling of the Epstein files? | |
| The developments on Friday came amid a turbulent week for the president as some of his most loyal supporters demanded more transparency and public disclosure in the Epstein case. | The developments on Friday came amid a turbulent week for the president as some of his most loyal supporters demanded more transparency and public disclosure in the Epstein case. |
| Some Trump loyalists have even called for Attorney General Bondi to resign after she reversed course on releasing certain documents related to Epstein. | Some Trump loyalists have even called for Attorney General Bondi to resign after she reversed course on releasing certain documents related to Epstein. |
| Chad Bianco, a Republican sheriff running for California governor, told BBC News that Trump's handling of the Epstein files was "not what I was expecting" and that "millions" of his followers are disappointed. | Chad Bianco, a Republican sheriff running for California governor, told BBC News that Trump's handling of the Epstein files was "not what I was expecting" and that "millions" of his followers are disappointed. |
| "We feel like we're being talked down to like stupid children." | "We feel like we're being talked down to like stupid children." |
| Meanwhile, members of Congress are pushing to pass a "discharge petition" that would force Bondi to release a broad range of materials that the justice department has related to Epstein. | Meanwhile, members of Congress are pushing to pass a "discharge petition" that would force Bondi to release a broad range of materials that the justice department has related to Epstein. |
| The effort has brought together some of Congress's fiercest opponents, including Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene and Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who are both signed on as supporters. | The effort has brought together some of Congress's fiercest opponents, including Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene and Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who are both signed on as supporters. |