Trump Orders DOJ To Release Epstein Docs; Denies Writing Racy Letter To Disgraced Pedophile
President Trump called Thursday night for the unsealing of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein, directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to push for its release in court. It came after dismissing the Epstein story for two weeks and calling on his supporters to stop talking about the issue.
The move comes as there is growing pressure from Trump supporters, who have been demanding transparency and access to all FBI and DOJ files on Epstein.
What led to the change? The Wall Street Journal published a story Thursday that featured a 2003 birthday letter Trump reportedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump and his allies are denying it — and the president is threatening to sue the Journal, despite the fact that it is run by conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
INSIDE THE FILES
Attorney General Bondi said she will act on the president’s request Friday. However, don’t hold your breath. Legal experts note that grand jury transcripts are typically protected under federal secrecy rules, with only narrow exceptions.
It’s unclear whether the Justice Department can convince a federal judge in New York — where Epstein was indicted in 2019 on child sex trafficking charges — to release the transcripts and whether making the documents public will satisfy critics demanding broader disclosures.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump rejected calls from some of his supporters to appoint a special counsel to investigate the handling of the Epstein files. He has called the public scrutiny a “hoax” perpetrated by Democrats and previously dismissed the issue as a distraction.
TRUMP TAKES AIM AT MURDOCH
The letter published by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday was part of a leather-bound album compiled by Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is behind bars for her involvement in his child sexual abuse ring. It was made about three years before Epstein was first arrested in 2006. The album includes a dialogue-style note allegedly from Trump and a sketch of a nude woman signed by him.
It goes:
“Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything,” the note began.
Donald: Yes, there is, but I won’t tell you what it is.
Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is.
Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.
Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it.
Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?
Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.
Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.
Trump denies writing the letter or drawing the image, calling the report “fake” and saying, “It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” His allies are making similar assertions:
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted: “My father has a very specific way of speaking... The insanity written in the Wall Street Journal, AIN’T IT and everyone knows it. Also in 47 years I’ve never seen him doodle once.”
Vice President JD Vance called the story BS, and questioned: "Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?"
Charlie Kirk posted: "This is not how Trump talks at all. I don't believe it."
Now, Trump says he is going to go after Murdoch and his publication in court. Behind the scenes, Trump failed at persuading his longtime friend (and occasional critic) to kill the story.
The two billionaires have had an on-again, off-again relationship for decades, beginning when Trump was a frequent New York Post tabloid subject. Murdoch was even skeptical of a Trump presidential run, but once Trump became the GOP nominee, Murdoch aligned with him, recognizing the financial benefits, a former Fox News commentator said.
FRIEND OR FOE
Murdoch’s outlets — including Fox News and The New York Post — have been credited with helping Trump win the presidency. Trump frequently watches Fox and reads The Post, often sharing their stories on Truth Social, and back in February, Trump praised Murdoch in the Oval Office, saying he is “in a class by himself” and “an amazing guy.” Trump added, “I don’t agree with him on some things.”
While these outlets typically offer extremely supportive coverage of Trump, the latest WSJ Epstein story is not the first time a Murdoch-owned publication has published a negative story about the president.
Murdoch told a colleague via email, after the attacks on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, that “we want to make Trump a non-person.”
Post-Jan. 6, many of Murdoch’s publications were critical of Trump. The New York Post editorial board, separate from the newsroom, wrote amid the 2022 Jan. 6 Committee hearings that “Trump has proven himself unworthy to be this country’s chief executive again.”
The newspaper also mocked Trump when he announced his second bid for the presidency in 2022.
On election night 2020, Fox News was the first major network to call Arizona for Biden — a move Murdoch reportedly approved by saying “F—k him.” Trump was furious about the decision, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner lobbied Murdoch to retract the call.
While two of the network’s top news executives were fired over the call, it stood. The network did, however, have to pay a $787 million settlement to voting machine company Dominion in a defamation lawsuit for pushing Trump’s claims of possible election fraud.
Bottom line: The timing of Trump’s new stance is notable as he takes heat over a recent DOJ report that dismissed many Epstein conspiracy theories and closed its review of the case. The release of the letter is reigniting scrutiny of Trump’s past ties to Epstein — and raising new questions about what was left out of the DOJ’s review.
