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Donald Trump insists: ‘Publish everything’ on the Epstein files, denies links and announces a 10 billion dollar lawsuit

The US president denies any involvement in the Epstein case and calls for the Grand Jury testimony to be declassified, while political and judicial tension surrounding the Epstein files grows

Donald Trump returns to the spotlight on the Epstein case, strongly denying any involvement with the financier who committed suicide in prison in 2019, and calling for the full declassification of the grand jury testimony gathered during the investigation.

In a post published on the social media platform Truth, the US president called for “everything to be released” regarding the sensitive documents, wanting to shed light on a case that has fuelled controversy and suspicion for years about powerful figures linked to Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes and international child trafficking.

The decision on whether or not to declassify the documents rests with Manhattan federal judge Richard M. Berman, who will have to consult all the victims and people involved in the investigation, who have not been charged, before making a decision. The process could therefore be long and complex.

Trump’s move comes after an article in the Wall Street Journal claimed that in 2003, the president sent Epstein a letter wishing him a happy 50th birthday, with a drawing of a naked woman and an allusive message: “Happy birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret”. Trump has categorically denied ever sending the letter, calling it “fake”, and has announced his intention to file a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, also involving media mogul Rupert Murdoch in what promises to be an intense legal battle.

At the same time, details are emerging about an intense investigation by the FBI, which reportedly mobilised hundreds of agents to comb through hundreds of thousands of pages of the Epstein files in search of references to Donald Trump. The situation was reported by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, head of the Justice Committee, who in a letter sent to the Attorney General, the Director and Deputy Director of the FBI, pointed out that Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, had pressed for extraordinary resources to be devoted to this search, with 24-hour shifts.

Senator Durbin also requested that, if there were any documents mentioning Trump, copies be provided to the Judiciary Committee and the Office of the Inspector General. In the past, Trump had described Epstein as “an extraordinary guy” and “fun” to be around, saying he had known him for at least 15 years.

In an already tense climate, the debate was further inflamed after statements by Stacey Williams, a former Sports Illustrated model known for a brief relationship with Epstein, who described the relationship between Epstein and Trump as “almost best friends”. Williams also accused Trump of harassing her in 1993, an accusation rejected by the president.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General is being called upon to clarify her position after stating that the alleged list of powerful clients linked to Epstein was “on her desk for review”, a statement later refuted by a subsequent memorandum stating that, following a systematic review, no such list existed.

The Epstein case continues to be a sensitive issue involving not only legal matters, but also political and image issues for prominent figures such as Donald Trump, who is now engaged in a strategy of full transparency and legal challenge to defend his position.

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