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The Trump administration moved Friday to unseal grand jury testimony in the long-running Jeffrey Epstein case, a surprise legal maneuver that highlights the White House’s struggle to control growing backlash over its handling of documents tied to the disgraced financier.
In a court filing, the Department of Justice asked a federal judge in Manhattan to release previously confidential testimony, citing “the public’s longstanding and legitimate interest” in the Epstein case. The request came just one day after President Donald Trump personally directed Attorney General Pamela Bondi to pursue the motion following the publication of a report that linked Trump to a 2003 birthday note allegedly found among Epstein’s belongings.
“The public’s interest in the Epstein matter has remained,” the DOJ filing states. “Given this longstanding and legitimate interest, the government now moves to unseal grand jury transcripts associated with Epstein.”
Trump Denies Involvement, Calls for Transparency
Trump, posting on Truth Social late Thursday, framed the Epstein coverage as politically motivated and demanded the release of all relevant materials.
“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,” Trump wrote. “This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”
Bondi, who has led the DOJ since late 2024, had previously pledged transparency in the Epstein investigation but appeared to retreat from that position last week. In an internal memo, she concluded there was “no evidence Epstein kept a client list” or was murdered—contradicting years of public speculation.
The filing on Friday, signed by Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, said public officials, lawmakers, media outlets, and ordinary citizens “remain deeply interested and concerned about the Epstein matter.”
Federal Judge Must Now Decide
The final decision rests with U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman in Manhattan, who oversaw Epstein’s criminal proceedings prior to his 2019 death, officially ruled a suicide. Before ruling on the matter, Berman must confer with victims and any uncharged individuals named in the testimony to protect their identities, as required by federal law. That process could take weeks or even months.
Grand jury materials are typically shielded from public view under Rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. But legal exceptions exist in cases involving “significant public interest,” especially when no ongoing prosecutions are at stake.
“Unsealing grand jury testimony is a high bar,” said Paul Rosenzweig, a former senior DOJ official. “But in exceptional cases involving national scrutiny, judges have found it appropriate.”
Political Pressure Mounts After Renewed Scrutiny
The administration’s move follows a week of renewed scrutiny over its handling of the Epstein files. On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal published a report detailing a birthday letter found among Epstein’s personal effects that bore Trump’s name and an outline of a naked woman. Trump denied the account and is now suing the paper’s parent company for defamation.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department continues its search for unredacted materials. According to officials familiar with the review, the FBI launched a round-the-clock effort to scan, review, and redact thousands of pages of evidence seized in connection with the Epstein investigation. Much of the material remains unusable due to legal requirements around privacy and classification.
Court documents indicate that judges have already unsealed hundreds of pages of Epstein-related material in previous rulings. But much of what remains has been deemed too sensitive for public release, especially where it pertains to victims or uncharged third parties.
DOJ Also Eyes Ghislaine Maxwell Files
In its latest filing, the Justice Department also revealed plans to seek unsealing of grand jury testimony tied to Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking minors. That motion has not yet been filed but is expected in the coming weeks.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in a Florida federal prison. Her legal team has not responded publicly to Friday’s developments.
