Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he instructed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to pursue the release of grand jury testimony pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking case. This move comes in the wake of increasing criticism over a story claiming Trump contributed a sketch of a naked woman to Epstein’s 50th birthday album.
Trump stated on Truth Social that he authorized the justice department to request the public release of materials related to the case, which are currently sealed, referencing “the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein”.
Bondi, who faced criticism from Trump’s far-right supporters regarding her handling and commitment to releasing confidential documents on the Epstein case, responded to Trump’s announcement with her own pledge to follow through with the directive.
This flurry of activity followed a story in the Wall Street Journal that claimed Trump had sent a letter to Epstein for his birthday album, described as “bawdy” and featuring a drawing of a naked woman’s silhouette with a message.
Trump denied being the author of the birthday tribute, and hours after the story was published, he declared his intention to file a lawsuit, dismissing the report as “the Epstein Hoax”.
Trump stated in his post that he personally informed Rupert Murdoch and the Journal’s editor-in-chief Emma Tucker that the letter was not genuine and threatened legal action if the story was published.
The issue of the story’s veracity became a subject of speculation in Washington, with debates over whether Trump did indeed draw the figure of a woman and the legitimacy of the story’s contents.
The Journal reported that the letter included a typewritten conversation between Trump and Epstein, with the note ending with a wish for Epstein’s future, “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret”.
Additionally, other prominent figures such as L Brands owner Les Wexner and Epstein’s attorney Alan Dershowitz apparently contributed to the birthday album, which was investigated by officials during their inquiries into Epstein and Maxwell. Both denied recalling the content of their contributions.
Despite Trump’s recent attempt to steer MAGA Republicans away from the topic by labeling it as a “hoax,” his birthday wishes to Epstein in 2003 come after previously praising Epstein in a 2002 New York magazine profile, calling him a “terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do.”
JD Vance defended Trump, calling the story “complete and utter bullshit” and questioning the Journal’s credibility for publishing it without evidence.
