President Donald Trump has formally requested Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue the release of grand jury testimony related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, signaling a response to growing political and public pressure — including from within his own base — to release more information surrounding the high-profile sex trafficking case.

Shortly after, Bondi responded on X, saying:

Trump’s statement followed a Wall Street Journal report revealing a 2003 birthday letter allegedly from Trump to Epstein. The letter included a lewd drawing and Trump’s signature stylized as pubic hair, ending with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Trump called the letter “fake” and threatened legal action against the Journal and Rupert Murdoch, claiming both he and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned the paper not to publish it.

Federal grand juries collect evidence and hear testimony in secret. While they can be instrumental in indictments, the material is typically not released publicly. It’s unclear what Bondi will argue to justify unsealing documents that traditionally remain sealed to protect witnesses, victims, and the integrity of investigations.

A Justice Department official confirmed plans to file a request in Manhattan federal court on Friday to release additional material.

Previously released documents include parts of the 2006 Florida grand jury probe and evidence from the 2022 trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years for conspiring with Epstein to groom and abuse underage girls.

However, Trump and Bondi have not addressed whether FBI interview notes or internal DOJ investigative memos will be included in any release. These documents, while often not used in court, could significantly expand public understanding of the Epstein network.

The move comes amid dissatisfaction among Trump loyalists over a Justice Department memo released last week. The memo concluded that Epstein left behind no credible “client list” and that there was no evidence of foul play in his 2019 jailhouse death.

The DOJ also released 10 hours of surveillance video showing that no one entered Epstein’s cell the night he died. The findings contradicted widespread conspiracy theories and disappointed many of Trump’s supporters who believed the administration would expose more details.

The memo drew backlash from Trump’s political base, with some accusing Attorney General Bondi of withholding evidence. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) were among the GOP figures publicly pressing for more documents to be released.

Despite the criticism, Trump defended Bondi, saying she is authorized to release any additional “credible” information the court allows. He also criticized Republicans focused on the issue, calling them “stupid and foolish” and accused Democrats of exploiting the Epstein scandal for political purposes.

The Department of Justice is expected to submit its motion to unseal grand jury testimony shortly. Whether the court will grant access remains unclear. Legal experts caution that the material may be limited in scope and unlikely to satisfy calls for full disclosure.

Meanwhile, pressure continues to build, with Trump now at the center of both the legal and political fallout over one of the most controversial criminal cases in recent memory.

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