President Donald Trump on Friday attempted to contain the fallout from a bombshell report linking him closely to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
He ordered the US Department of Justice to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Epstein’s prosecution, in an apparent bid to calm anger among his staunch supporters.
Trump also threatened legal action against The Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, over claims that he sent Epstein a sexually suggestive letter in 2003, referencing their shared “secret”.
“I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his ‘pile of garbage’ newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the Justice Department would request a court to unseal grand jury evidence from Epstein’s case. The move appeared aimed at addressing outrage within Trump’s MAGA base, who suspect a cover-up by the White House.
Epstein, a wealthy financier, died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sexually exploiting underage girls. His death fuelled conspiracy theories — especially among Trump’s right-wing supporters — about a supposed global elite involved in child trafficking.
When Trump returned to the presidency in January for a second term, many of his backers demanded the release of Epstein’s alleged “client list”. However, in July, Bondi issued a statement denying the existence of such a list.
The dissatisfaction among Trump’s loyal supporters represents a rare challenge to the 79-year-old’s grip on the conservative political narrative.
Whether a court will permit the unsealing of the typically confidential grand jury testimony remains uncertain. And even if released, the testimony may not clarify whether an Epstein client list exists or reveal new details about high-profile figures connected to him.
The Wall Street Journal reignited controversy late Thursday with an article alleging that Trump sent Epstein a birthday letter in 2003 featuring a hand-drawn naked woman and a message referencing their “secrets”. The drawing reportedly included Trump’s signature “Donald” stylised to resemble pubic hair, and ended with: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump denounced the letter as fake, calling it a “Scam” on Truth Social, and insisted that WSJ editor Emma Tucker had been informed of its inauthenticity before publishing the piece.
“That’s not my language. Those aren’t my words,” Trump declared in a flurry of posts. “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women.”
Despite multiple photos and videos of Trump and Epstein at events over the years, no evidence has been presented showing criminal wrongdoing by Trump. Nonetheless, the renewed attention has again placed him at the centre of the controversy surrounding Epstein’s sordid legacy.