On Friday, the US Department of Justice filed a motion asking a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the case of Jeffrey Epstein at the direction of Donald Trump, amid growing controversy over how the administration has handled related records.
This move follows a Wall Street Journal article that highlighted Trump’s connections to Epstein and comes after the administration declared it will not release additional government files from Epstein’s sex trafficking case. This decision has angered parts of Trump’s base, especially after administration members had previously anticipated the release and fueled conspiracy theories about the financier.
US Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, filed motions requesting that the court unseal these transcripts, as well as those in the case against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted for enticing underage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Epstein died in 2019 by suicide while awaiting trial.
The Wall Street Journal had earlier reported on a letter reputedly carrying Trump’s signature, included in a birthday album for Epstein’s 50th birthday, featuring suggestive content. Trump denies writing the letter, calling it “false, malicious, and defamatory” and has vowed to take legal action.
The Department of Justice has stated it will collaborate with New York prosecutors to redact any victim-related or personally identifiable information from the transcripts before they are released, emphasizing its commitment to protecting victims while aiming for transparency. However, there are no plans yet to release other evidence the administration holds.
This process will require a judge’s approval and is expected to be time-consuming, involving careful consideration of which information can be made public and redacting to shield sensitive witness and victim information. These records could reveal witness testimony and other evidence presented during the secret grand jury proceedings where it is decided if there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/18/justice-department-unseal-grand-jury-transcripts-epstein-case
