Former United States President Donald Trump has issued a sharp demand to the Department of Justice (DOJ), urging it to publicly disclose the names of Democrats associated with the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Trump suggested the move should be used to "embarrass them," amidst the ongoing, massive release of federal records tied to the case.
Trump's Fiery Social Media Outburst
Reacting to news about the discovery of more documents, Trump took to his Truth Social platform on December 27 with an angry post. He accused Democrats of orchestrating the focus on the Epstein case as a political diversion from Republican successes.
"Now 1,000,000 more pages on Epstein are found. DOJ is being forced to spend all of its time on this Democrat inspired Hoax," Trump wrote. He further asserted, "The Dems are the ones who worked with Epstein, not the Republicans. Release all of their names, embarrass them, and get back to helping our Country!"
In a separate, Christmas Day post, Trump used even harsher language, targeting Epstein's associates. "Merry Christmas to all, including the many Sleazebags who loved Jeffrey Epstein, gave him bundles of money, went to his Island, attended his parties," he stated, predicting a reckoning when their political affiliations are revealed.
The Legal Mandate and Document Release Timeline
The push for transparency is backed by law. On November 19, Trump himself signed legislation mandating the release of federal records related to Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The law required these documents to be made public within 30 days.
Acting on this, the Justice Department began the phased release of Epstein-related records on December 19, publishing hundreds of thousands of pages initially. However, the scale of the task is enormous. On December 24, the DOJ revealed that the FBI and federal prosecutors had identified more than one million additional documents related to the case.
Officials have warned that processing these millions of pages for public release will take several weeks. This slow pace has led some lawmakers to accuse the Trump administration of potentially violating the disclosure law it enacted.
High-Profile Names and Ongoing Review
Jeffrey Epstein was a wealthy financier with deep connections across global elites in politics, business, and entertainment. The documents released so far have mentioned several prominent figures.
Donald Trump is referenced in some files, including details about flights on Epstein's private plane. The records also contain photographs of former Democratic President Bill Clinton, among other notable individuals. It is crucial to note that authorities have not accused either Trump or Clinton of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Many of the released documents remain heavily redacted.
The Justice Department has confirmed it continues to review the remaining trove of Epstein-related material to fully comply with the law, though a firm timeline for the complete disclosure has not been provided.
