Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in 1993. Credit: By Ralph Alswang, White House photographer – Creative Commons
US President Donald Trump is facing growing pressure to release documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case.
A New York court has ordered his administration to hand over missing grand jury files, while Congress has voted to force Ghislaine Maxwell to testify after the summer break.
Court tells Trump’s team to hand over missing Epstein files
A federal judge in New York has criticised Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) for failing to submit key grand jury documents related to Epstein’s case. The DOJ asked to unseal the files but did not explain why or provide the transcripts.
As The Guardian reported, the judge said the court could not move forward without the missing paperwork. The DOJ has now been ordered to submit the documents by next Tuesday, July 29, so the court can decide whether to unseal them.
Congress votes to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell
On July 22, the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping Epstein abuse underage girls. Lawmakers want her to give evidence after summer recess.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ is planning to speak with Maxwell “in the coming days” to see if she has “information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims.” Her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, posted on X: “We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.”
Speaker Mike Johnson changes his mind
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had earlier supported the idea of releasing the Epstein files, but this week backed off. Speaking to reporters, he said, “We need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing,” and confirmed there would be no vote before summer break (cited by The Independent).
Trump avoided a question about Epstein during a press event with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and called the investigation into Epstein “a sort of witch hunt.”
In June, Elon Musk publicly accused Trump of appearing in Epstein’s files – a claim that triggered a media storm and major backlash.
After The Wall Street Journal published stories linking Trump to Epstein, the Trump administration banned the outlet from the White House press pool, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, calling it “defamatory.”
What’s next for the Epstein case?
With deadlines approaching and Maxwell set to be questioned, the pressure is on the Trump administration to release the files. The case could reveal more about who was involved and whether powerful names have been protected all this time…
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