Trump orders DOJ to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts amid firestorm over 2003 birthday note

“I never wrote that letter,” Trump said, rejecting any connection to the note.

In a high-stakes development surrounding the long-shadowed Jeffrey Epstein case, the US Justice Department has asked a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

The move follows a direct order from President Donald Trump, who demanded transparency after his name resurfaced in a controversial Wall Street Journal report.

What prompted the sudden move?

The push for unsealing comes in the wake of a Wall Street Journal story that revealed the existence of a sexually suggestive letter allegedly signed by Trump and placed in a 2003 birthday album gifted to Epstein for his 50th birthday.

Trump responded swiftly, calling the letter “false, malicious, and defamatory” and demanding the Justice Department release grand jury records to clear the air.

“I never wrote that letter,” Trump said, rejecting any connection to the note.

The Justice Department confirmed its plan to collaborate with New York prosecutors to redact the names of victims and sensitive details before any material is made public.

Transcripts could reveal witness testimony, key evidence

The grand jury transcripts in question are expected to include witness statements, evidence presented by prosecutors, and possibly sealed testimonies, material that courts rarely make public unless required by law or judicial oversight.

While Trump's directive and the DOJ’s formal request signal political will, legal complexities remain. Judges must still weigh privacy concerns, especially around victim protection, before approving any disclosures.

“Even with DOJ support, the process could take weeks, if not months,” a legal expert familiar with the matter told Associated Press.

Backlash over secrecy and delayed disclosure

The Trump administration had faced mounting criticism after the Justice Department announced last week that it would withhold remaining Epstein case materials from public release, citing privacy concerns.

That decision triggered bipartisan backlash, with victims’ advocates, transparency groups, and media organisations accusing the government of shielding powerful individuals potentially implicated in the case.

Trump’s sudden shift in position, from silence to a public push for disclosure, is now being seen by some as a political damage control move in response to the resurfacing of his name in Epstein-related documents.

Maxwell transcripts also in focus

Alongside Epstein’s case, the DOJ is also requesting the unsealing of grand jury records from the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, where the British socialite was convicted of sex trafficking and conspiracy charges for helping Epstein exploit minors.

These records may contain overlapping witness testimony and potentially reveal how prosecutors built their cases, though any disclosures will be carefully reviewed to protect survivors’ identities, Associated Press reported.