Trump DOJ petition to unseal Epstein grand jury records denied by three federal judges

On Jul. 17, 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported on an alleged 2003 birthday letter Trump sent Epstein. Trump denied writing the letter, called it "fake," and on Jul. 18 posted on Truth Social directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to petition federal courts to unseal Jeffrey Epstein grand jury testimony. Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal, Rupert Murdoch, and News Corp the next day. Three federal judges rejected the unsealing requests. On Jul. 23, 2025, Judge Robin Rosenberg denied the Florida motion, ruling that 11th Circuit precedent on grand jury secrecy tied her hands. On Aug. 11, Judge Paul Engelmayer rejected the DOJ's bid to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury records, calling the transparency rationale "demonstrably false" and suggesting the motion aimed at "diversion" rather than disclosure. On Aug. 20, Judge Richard Berman denied the SDNY Epstein grand jury unsealing, writing that the motion appeared designed to distract from the "breadth and scope" of files DOJ already possessed.

President Trump posted on Truth Social on July 18, 2025, directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to petition federal courts to unseal Jeffrey Epstein grand jury testimony. The directive came hours after the Wall Street Journal reported on a 2003 birthday letter Trump allegedly sent Epstein; Trump denied writing the letter and filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal, Rupert Murdoch, and News Corp the same day. DOJ filed unsealing motions in federal courts in Florida and the Southern District of New York, signed only by Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.