On July 17, 2025, the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s connection to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein deepened dramatically. The Wall Street Journal published a report revealing a sexually suggestive letter allegedly penned by Trump, included in a 2003 album compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday. The letter, which Trump vehemently denies writing, features text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman and ends with the words, “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
The letter was reportedly collected by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate, who was arrested in 2020 and found guilty in 2021 for helping Epstein lure underage girls for sexual exploitation. The Wall Street Journal refrained from publishing the full image but described the letter’s contents in detail, noting the signature, a squiggly “Donald” beneath the figure, mimicking pubic hair.
Trump responded swiftly and forcefully, branding the story “false, malicious, and defamatory.” In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, he declared that both Rupert Murdoch, owner of NewsCorp (the Journal’s parent company), and Emma Tucker, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, were informed prior to publication that the letter was a “fake.” Trump promised to sue The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Murdoch, calling the lawsuit part of his broader campaign against what he terms the “Fake News Media.”
Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump’s outrage on X, questioning the Journal’s decision to publish without showing the letter to the public or to Trump’s team beforehand. “Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been grappling with fallout from the Justice Department’s recent announcement that no further Epstein evidence in government possession would be released publicly. This reversal came after months of anticipation fueled by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had previously promised transparency regarding the investigation into Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes.
On July 17, Trump abruptly reversed his earlier stance and directed Bondi to seek court approval to release grand jury transcripts related to the Epstein case. Bondi confirmed she would file a motion on July 18 to unseal these documents, but emphasized that a judge’s approval was necessary. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed the motions, committing to appropriate redactions to protect victim privacy. Despite this move, the administration has not indicated plans to release other evidence collected during the investigation.
The Justice Department’s July memo dispelled conspiracy theories circulating among some Trump supporters, stating there is no evidence that Epstein maintained a “client list” of powerful individuals or that he was murdered in jail. Epstein’s death by suicide in 2019 has been confirmed, and claims of a cover-up have been repeatedly dismissed.
The controversy has also had political repercussions. Democratic lawmakers, such as Pat Ryan, have criticized Trump’s refusal to release the Epstein files, suggesting that the president’s reluctance signals something to hide. On the other side, some Republicans have expressed frustration that the issue has stalled legislative efforts, including a bill to claw back $9.4 billion in federal spending, as Democrats linked progress to votes on releasing Epstein-related documents.
Adding to the intrigue, reports surfaced on July 17 that Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor involved in Epstein’s case and daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, was abruptly fired. Comey had also prosecuted Maxwell. The reasons for her dismissal remain unclear, but the timing has fueled speculation about political interference.
Trump’s ties to Epstein have been scrutinized for years. Video footage uncovered by NBC News after Epstein’s 2019 indictment shows the two men at a party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in 1992, surrounded by young women identified as Buffalo Bills cheerleaders. Trump has described Epstein as a “fixture in Palm Beach” but insists they had a falling-out years ago and hadn’t spoken for 15 years prior to Epstein’s arrest.
In 2024, Trump was convicted in New York on felony charges related to hush money payments aimed at silencing an adult film star’s claims of a sexual relationship. While this conviction is unrelated to Epstein, it adds to the scrutiny of Trump’s personal conduct amid the broader sex scandal context.
On July 18, 2025, Trump escalated the battle by filing a $10 billion defamation lawsuit in federal court in Miami against The Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch, and NewsCorp. The suit alleges the letter story is a malicious fabrication aimed at damaging his reputation. Trump framed the lawsuit as part of his ongoing fight against media outlets, referencing prior multimillion-dollar settlements with ABC and CBS.
The Justice Department’s motion to unseal the grand jury transcripts marks a significant development, potentially shedding light on witness testimonies and evidence presented during the secret proceedings that led to Epstein’s indictment. However, the process will be lengthy, involving judicial review and redaction to protect sensitive victim information.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has been at the center of the Epstein files saga, has so far refrained from answering media questions about the case and her relationship with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, with whom she reportedly had a tense exchange last week. The White House has also ruled out appointing a special counsel to investigate further, despite calls from some quarters for deeper scrutiny.
As the Epstein files controversy continues to roil Washington, the Trump administration faces a complex balancing act: managing the political fallout, addressing demands for transparency, and defending the president’s personal and political legacy. With the lawsuit underway and grand jury transcripts potentially becoming public, the saga shows no signs of fading anytime soon.
