Amidst growing scrutiny over the Trump administration’s handling of records linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the Justice Department has requested a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts from his case.
This motion, filed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, follows President Donald Trump’s directive to the Justice Department to release the transcripts.
Controversy has surrounded the Trump administration since the Justice Department’s recent announcement that it would not release further evidence from the Epstein investigation.
Mr. Trump’s call for the release of grand jury transcripts came after The Wall Street Journal reported on a sexually suggestive letter, purportedly bearing Mr. Trump’s name, included in a 2003 album for Epstein’s 50th birthday.
Mr. Trump has refuted writing the letter, dismissing it as “false, malicious, and defamatory”.
The Justice Department stated it will collaborate with New York prosecutors to redact victim-related information and other personally identifiable details before releasing the transcripts.
Grand jury transcripts, containing witness testimonies and prosecutorial evidence, are typically kept confidential by courts, only being released when required for a judicial proceeding.
Despite the Justice Department’s support, the process of determining what can be released and protecting witnesses and other sensitive information could involve weeks or months of legal proceedings.
