Trump requests release of Epstein grand jury transcripts amid report of ‘bawdy’ birthday note

President directs Pam Bondi to seek release of testimony from sex-trafficking case and threatens to sue Wall Street Journal

In recent days, as the Epstein controversy had heated up after years of laying dormant, Trump has sought to steer Maga Republicans away from the subject, calling it a “hoax”. File Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Donald Trump said on Thursday he had directed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking case as he sought to tamp down controversy over a story that he allegedly contributed a sketch of a naked woman to Epstein’s 50th birthday album.

The president said on Truth Social he had authorized the justice department to seek the public release of the materials, which are under seal, citing “the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein”.