The U.S. Department of Justice on 18 July filed a motion in Manhattan federal court asking Judge Richard M. Berman to unseal grand-jury transcripts from the sex-trafficking cases of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the filing, which argues that the material is of significant public interest and should be released with redactions safeguarding victims and any uncharged individuals. The move followed President Donald Trump’s public call the previous evening for greater transparency. Trump said on Truth Social that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the transcripts amid mounting criticism of the administration’s handling of Epstein-related records. The request comes as the White House faces renewed scrutiny after a Wall Street Journal report about a 2003 birthday letter allegedly bearing Trump’s signature. Trump has denied the report and threatened legal action against the newspaper’s publisher. The timing for any disclosure now hinges on the court’s consultation with victims and other affected parties.