Trump orders officials to release Epstein court documents after mounting pressure

July 18, 2025

President Donald Trump has ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce additional grand jury documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, amid pressure from supporters for more transparency in the case. This announcement follows controversy over a Wall Street Journal article alleging Trump sent Epstein a "bawdy" birthday greeting in 2003, which Trump denies and threatens to sue over. The president's directive comes after Bondi recently stated that the Justice Department doesn't believe Epstein had a "client list" implicating high-profile associates, disappointing many Trump supporters who expected major revelations.

Who is affected

Jeffrey Epstein's victims
Trump supporters expecting revelations about Epstein's associates
The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch (facing potential lawsuit)
The general public interested in Epstein case information
Potential high-profile individuals who might be named in documents
Attorney General Pam Bondi

What action is being taken

President Trump has ordered the Justice Department to produce additional documents related to Jeffrey Epstein
Attorney General Pam Bondi is preparing to ask the court to unseal grand jury transcripts
Trump is threatening to sue The Wall Street Journal over their story about the alleged birthday greeting
Some grand jury documents concerning Epstein's 2006 Florida case have already been released

Why it matters

The Epstein case involves serious sex trafficking allegations and crimes against minors
Trump promised during his campaign to release files related to Epstein
There is significant public interest in identifying potential high-profile associates of Epstein
Trump supporters have been demanding further disclosures in the case
The administration's handling of the Epstein files has caused controversy among Trump's base
Previous Epstein cases were criticized for the lack of serious charges despite testimony from multiple minors

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article beyond Bondi's statement that "We are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts."

Read full article from source: BBC