The controversy over how Donald Trump’s administration has managed records related to Jeffrey Epstein took a new turn on Thursday, amid growing public and political pressure to release long-promised documents tied to the high-profile sex trafficking case involving the late financier — once a close acquaintance of the now-president.
The latest uproar was sparked by a Wall Street Journal report revealing the existence of a sexually suggestive letter allegedly signed by Trump and included in a 2003 birthday album for Epstein. Trump vehemently denied having written the letter, calling it “false, malicious, and defamatory,” and announced he would sue the newspaper.
The letter, reportedly compiled by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell — who was later convicted of helping Epstein lure underage girls — featured a message framed by a hand-drawn image of a naked woman. “Happy birthday, and may each day be another wonderful secret,” the letter read. The Journal described the letter’s contents but did not publish a full image of it.
The revelation further fueled tensions among Trump’s allies, many of whom have long claimed that the government engaged in a cover-up to shield Epstein’s wealthy and powerful associates. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal child trafficking charges.
Earlier this week, Trump criticized as “weak” those supporters demanding full disclosure of the Epstein files. He also claimed — without providing evidence — that the documents might have been tampered with by Democrats. Meanwhile, he has defended his attorney general, Pam Bondi, who recently walked back earlier claims about the existence of an alleged “client list” of elite Epstein associates.
Despite promises of leading a transparent administration, the White House is facing increasing scrutiny over why the Epstein records remain sealed. The mounting pressure prompted Trump to abruptly reverse course on Thursday, instructing Bondi to explore options to make some of the documents public.
On Friday, Bondi announced she would seek court approval to release grand jury information, though the final decision rests with a judge. Neither she nor Trump commented on any additional evidence gathered during the federal investigation, which Bondi confirmed last week would not be released.
Vice President JD Vance also lashed out at The Wall Street Journal over the report. “Where is this letter? Would it surprise anyone to learn we were never shown it before publication? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?” he posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the newspaper “should be ashamed.”
Tensions escalated after the Justice Department said it would no longer release further Epstein-related evidence to the public, despite Bondi’s prior commitments to transparency. The decision not only angered Trump supporters but also reportedly led to a heated exchange at the White House last week between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino — an incident no official has publicly addressed.
To date, the Justice Department has not issued a full report explaining the reversal, despite Bondi having distributed folders months ago labeled “Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “the most transparent government” to influential conservatives inside the White House. This week, Bondi refused to answer questions from reporters about the Epstein documents or her relationship with Bongino.
The Epstein saga remains a persistent headache for the Trump administration — a politically toxic story that continues to haunt the president, fueled by internal divisions, pressure from his base, and the unresolved mystery of why the files he once pledged to release may stay buried — perhaps forever.
