Trump seeks release of Epstein grand jury records, not dept files

Washington: Under intense pressure from President Donald Trump's own supporters, his administration on Friday asked a federal court to unseal secret documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's case in an effort to put to rest for good a political crisis largely of its own making. But even if those records be come public, it's far from cer tain they will appease critics enraged over the administra tion's unfulfilled promises of full transparency about evidence against the wealthy financier.

Meanwhile, the administration remains dogged by questions about its refusal to release oth er records in its possession after stoking conspiracy theories and pledging to uncover government secrets of the “deep state. Trump is desperately trying to turn the page on a crisis that has consumed his administration since the Justice Department announced last week that it would not release any more evidence about the sex trafficking investigation into Epstein, who killed himself behind bars while awaiting trial in 2019.

The latest development came Thursday when the Wall Street Journal described a sexually suggestive letter that the news paper says bore Trump's name and was included in a 2003 al bum for Epstein's 50th birthday.

Trump denied writing the letter, calling it “false, malicious, and defamatory.” Shortly after the story was published, Trump said he had directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to “produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.” “This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!” the president wrote on social media. Bondi then announced that the Justice Department would move Friday to ask the court to unseal the grand jury tran scripts.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed the motion urging the court to release the transcripts. Grand juries decide whether there is enough evidence to bring an indictment, or a formal criminal charge, and their proceedings are secret to protect the reputations of people who end up not being charged and to encourage reluctant witnesses to testify.

Grand jury transcripts — which could show the testimony of witnesses and other evidence presented by prosecutors — are rarely released by courts, un less they need to be disclosed in connection with a judicial proceeding. In fact, grand jury secrecy is such a sacrosanct principle under the law that government officials who im properly disclose testimony are subject to prosecution.

Witnesses are not bound by those rules. Even with the Justice Depart ment endorsement, it could take weeks or months of legal wrangling to decide what can be released and how to protect witnesses and other sensitive victim information.(AP)