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New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Republicans and Democrats Call for More Information on Epstein Case
Days after the Justice Department asked a federal judge to unseal grand jury testimony related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, Republicans and Democrats suggested on Sunday that the move was insufficient and called for the release of more information. 'I think it's a good start,' Representative Tim Burchett, Republican of Tennessee, said in an interview on CNN. But he still wanted to see as many files as possible released, he added later. President Trump has been contending with fierce criticism from some of his supporters over his administration's handling of materials related to the sex trafficking investigations of Mr. Epstein and his connections to rich and powerful figures on the left and right. Mr. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in federal prison awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Mr. Trump and many of his allies vowed to release a trove of files in the case, including a so-called 'client list' that many involved in the case insist never existed. But the release of some documents earlier this year offered no new revelations. And the Justice Department said this month that it had closed the case and would not release more documents, concluding that there was no client list. One of Mr. Epstein's former lawyers, Alan Dershowitz, said in an interview on 'Fox News Sunday' that the grand jury testimony was unlikely to contain the information that has most interested Mr. Trump's supporters. Mr. Trump has encouraged his base to move on. But the backlash seemed to be on his mind on Sunday morning, when he accused 'Radical Left Democrats' of exposing the 'Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CNN
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Rep. Tim Burchett says Trump's request to release some Epstein grand jury documents is a ‘good start'
Republican Congressman Tim Burchett praises President Trump's request for a judge to release grand jury material in the Epstein case but says he would like the administration to release more.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
US justice department asks to unseal grand jury transcripts in Epstein case
The US Department of Justice asked a federal court on Friday to unseal grand jury transcripts in Jeffrey Epstein's case at the direction of Donald Trump amid a firestorm over the administration's handling of records related to the wealthy financier. The move – coming a day after a Wall Street Journal story put a spotlight on Trump's relationship with Epstein – seeks to contain a growing controversy that has engulfed the administration since it announced that it would not be releasing more government files from Epstein's sex trafficking case. Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general, filed motions urging the court to unseal the Epstein transcripts as well as those in the case against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Epstein killed himself in 2019 shortly after his arrest while awaiting trial. The justice department's announcement that it would not be making public any more Epstein files enraged parts of Trump's base in part because members of his own administration had hyped the expected release and stoked conspiracies around the well-connected financier. Trump's demand to release the grand jury transcripts came after the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday on a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump's name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein's 50th birthday. The letter bearing Trump's name includes text framed by the outline of what appears to be a hand-drawn naked woman and ends with, 'Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret,' according to the newspaper. The outlet described the contents of the letter but did not publish a photo showing it entirely. Trump denied writing the letter, calling it 'false, malicious, and defamatory' and promised to sue. Trump said he spoke to both to the paper's owner, Rupert Murdoch, and its top editor, Emma Tucker, and told them the letter was 'fake'. 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures,' the president wrote on social media. The justice department said in the court filings that it will work with with prosecutors in New York to make appropriate redactions of victim-related information and other personally identifying information before transcripts are released. 'Transparency in this process will not be at the expense of our obligation under the law to protect victims,' Blanche wrote. But despite the new push to release the grand jury transcripts, the administration has not announced plans to reverse course and release other evidence in its possession. Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, had hyped the release of more materials after the first Epstein files disclosure in February sparked outrage because it contained no new revelations. A judge would have to approve the release of the grand jury transcripts, and it's likely to be a lengthy process to decide what can become public and to make redactions to protect sensitive witness and victim information. The records would show testimony of witnesses and other evidence that was presented by prosecutions during the secret grand jury proceedings, when a panel decides whether there is enough evidence to bring an indictment, or a formal criminal charge.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ asks judge to unseal Epstein, Maxwell grand jury testimony
The Justice Department (DOJ) asked a federal court on Friday to unseal the grand jury transcripts in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed two different, almost identical, motions to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to release the transcripts of the man convicted of sex-trafficking minors and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The motions state that even though the DOJ and FBI remain confident about the July memo, which indicated there was no evidence of a 'client' list and confirmed that Epstein died by suicide, the court should unseal the testimonies out of 'public interest.' The move comes amid furor over the release of the so-called Epstein files, particularly among some of Trump's staunchest supports. The DOJ will work to remove the names of potential victims and 'other personal identifying information' before the transcript is released, the motions state. It is rare for a grand jury transcript to be released due to sensitive information; however, it can be done if there is enough public demand. There is still no information on how long it will take the court to unseal the files. The DOJ has not immediately responded to requests for comment. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal released a bombshell report about a letter President Trump reportedly sent to Epstein for his 50th birthday. The letter includes a drawn picture of a naked woman and the words 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump refuted the allegations and is now suing the reporters and the paper's owner Rupert Murdoch. Friday's motion comes after the president directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the 'pertinent grand jury testimony', in an attempt to calm criticism about the administration's handling of the case. '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. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!,' Trump posted on Truth Social. The administration in recent weeks has faced increased pressure from Republicans and Democrats alike to share more information about the case, prompting frustration from the president. 'I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country's history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats' work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
At Trump's request, Justice Department asks court to release Epstein grand jury records
The Justice Department asked a Manhattan federal court to release the grand jury transcripts tied to Jeffrey Epstein's federal sex-trafficking case following mounting pressure to increase transparency when it comes to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. The July 18 move, which calls for redacting personal identifying information before making the records public, follows a request President Donald Trump said he made to Attorney General Pam Bondi amid the ongoing controversy. "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 posted on Truth Social July 17. Bondi responded the same day in a post on X that the Justice Department is "ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts." The July 18 request from Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche promises that DOJ will make "appropriate redactions" to shield both victim-related information and personal identifying information - if the court authorizes releasing the records. That caveat could be disappointing to members of the public who have clamored for the government to release the names of any potential Epstein clients who may have participated with him in a sex-trafficking ring. Several members of Trump's own administration have fanned the flames of those conspiracies for years, including FBI Director Kash Patel, who told right-wing media figure Glenn Beck in 2023 that the head of President Joe Biden's FBI had direct control of an Epstein "black book." However, in a memo released July 7, the Justice Department and FBI said a review of the government's records on Epstein failed to turn up any client list and no further disclosures were warranted. While the department is now pushing for greater transparency, it stood by the memo's other determinations in its request to the court. "While the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to adhere to the conclusions reached in the Memorandum, transparency to the American public is of the utmost importance to this Administration," according to the filing. Bondi and Blanche also asked for the grand jury transcripts to be unsealed that are tied to Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell's federal criminal case. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence while appealing her 2021 conviction for trafficking a minor to Epstein. This story has been updated with additional information. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump DOJ asks court to release Epstein grand jury records Solve the daily Crossword
