Kayla Epstein
Reporting from Pennsylvania

The demands for the Trump administration to release Jeffrey Epstein files has sent Washington into a frenzy.

But on the ground in north-east Pennsylvania, Trump's supporters believe their president would ultimately handle the situation.

Vice-President JD Vance visited the town of West Pittston this week, and received a warm welcome from supporters.

"When he's ready, he'll let them out," Ed DeLucca, 72, tells me. He says he hopes Trump will bring the documents to light.

"There's a reason for it," he adds on the delay. "They'll come out."

Voters like Chrissy Maddocks were far more focused on the economy and the border, and gave the president high marks for his policies - including the controversial roundups and deportations of undocumented immigrants.

"I'd say, to our Maga base: Have faith in President Trump," she tells me.

That's not to say everyone in West Pittston was sanguine about the files. Steven Taylor, a truck driver, told BBC's US partner CBS News that Trump needed to prioritise the release of the files.

"We didn't ask for it. And now we want it. We demand it."

Image source, Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"My father has a very specific way of speaking. People all over the world have mimicked it for decades," Donald Trump Jr says in a post on X.

He's coming to the defence of his father, over the Wall Street Journal article which alleges Trump sent a lewd personal birthday note to Epstein in 2003.

It reportedly contains a joking reference that “enigmas never age” and allegedly ends with the words: "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret."

The newspaper says the card allegedly had a lewd drawing in it, done by heavy marker.

"The insanity written in the Wall Street Journal, AIN’T IT and everyone knows it. Also in 47 years I’ve never seen him doodle once. Give me a break with the fake 'journalisming'", Trump Jr adds in response.

He is quoting a post that says Trump has never used the word "enigma" before, however video footage shows him saying the word in 2015.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

I've just arrived at the White House, where reporters are starting to trickle in. Epstein is, unsurprisingly, the topic of conversation in the press area today.

We've not yet heard from President Trump in-person or on-camera this morning.

At 13:30 EST (18:30 BST), he's scheduled to preside over the swearing-in of Billy Long - the new commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.

At the moment, this is a closed event - although we've previously seen similar events open up to the White House press pool with little warning.

Later on, he'll be at a ceremony signing new cryptocurrency legislation into law. At that event reporters, including from the BBC, will be in the room. There is no guarantee, however, that he'll speak about Epstein.

Epstein, however, is clearly on his mind - making it entirely possible that he will want to address the issue directly.

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump has hit out at Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) after an article from the newspaper reported that the president's name appeared on a "bawdy" 2003 personal note to Epstein.

The note, which the newspaper claims was sent on Epstein's 50th birthday, has been called "fake" by Trump.

Now, in a social media post, Trump writes: "I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his 'pile of garbage' newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!"

Trump previously said the newspaper and owner Rupert Murdoch "were warned directly" they would be sued if they printed the story, describing it as "false, malicious, and defamatory".

A former federal prosecutor says Trump's request for the justice department to release court documents relating to the Epstein case is "unusual".

Mitchell Epner, a partner at the New York law firm Kudman Trachten Aloe Posner, says: "I've been in and around federal criminal cases for over 30 years. I've never heard of this before."

While the details and scope of the government's request is unknown, Epner tells the BBC's US partner CBS News that it could encompass an "enormous quantity of data".

Epner adds that material will not be released immediately, he says it is '"likely" it will take months for the court documents to be released.

"I would not be surprised if a number of people came forward under pseudonyms to object to the release of grand jury material related to them," he says.

"I also would not be surprised if some of the victims…came forward and said, 'Yes, we do want things to be revealed.'"

Image source, Getty Images

Yesterday, Vice-President JD Vance said the Wall Street Journal should be "ashamed" for publishing an article alleging that a lewd birthday greeting bearing Donald Trump's name was sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.

"The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it. 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 says on X.

Trump has denied the contents of the WSJ report, saying: "These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures."

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) and FBI have concluded that Epstein had "no incriminating client list" that could implicate high-profile associates.

Their joint review, released on 7 July, comes after speculation spread online that there was a list of Epstein's clients waiting to be released.

Fuel was added to these theories by some comments from prominent members of the Trump administration, after the president pledged in his campaign to declassify Epstein files including the much-anticipated “list”.

Back in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that she had a list of Epstein’s clients “sitting on my desk right now”. The White House later clarified that she was referring to files relating to Epstein's crimes.

And, before the 2024 US presidential election, Vice-President JD Vance said "we need to release the Epstein list" during an interview with podcaster Theo Von.

The joint review from the DoJ and FBI also said there was "no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions".

Risky strategy for Trump as he escalates Epstein row with loyal supporterspublished at 13:29 British Summer Time

13:29 BST

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Calls for more information to be released on Jeffrey Epstein have met support on both sides of the American political spectrum - a rare challenge to Donald Trump's leadership from some of the president's most loyal supporters.

It's also a rare source of consensus among the American public.

A YouGov poll indicated that 79% of Americans want the government to release "all documents it has".

That included 75% of Republican respondents and 85% of Democrats.

And, with remarks in the Oval Office where he blamed his own side - saying some "stupid Republicans... have fallen into the net" - Trump is drawing battle lines on the Epstein issue that divides his political base.

Trump's success has been powered by two central messages to his supporters – that he's an outsider who fights against a corrupt establishment and that he tells it like it is.

At a time when many voters say they are tired of polished politicians with shifting views, Trump's base sees him as authentic - unvarnished and controversial, yes, but honest.

His shifting comments – that the Epstein files should be released, that there are no files, that any possible files are hoaxes – also make him seem less like a straight-shooter and more like a man with something to hide.

He's left with the problem of trying to prove a negative. And for the moment, some of his supporters aren't buying it.

• Our North America correspondent has more on warnings from some commentators that the Epstein story could consume Trump's presidency

We've just heard from Donald Trump, as calls grow for the release of court files concerning Jeffrey Epstein.

In a social media post, he says: "If there was a 'smoking gun' on Epstein, why didn’t the Dems, who controlled the 'files' for four years, and had Garland and Comey in charge, use it? BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING!!!"

As a reminder, a judge will need to make the final decision on whether material can be released, which could take some time and is unlikely to be immediate.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, Trump has threatened to sue The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) for publishing a story claiming his name appeared on a "bawdy" 2003 birthday card to Epstein.

The card allegedly "contained several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand drawn with a heavy marker", the publication reports.

Writing on Truth Social, the US president dismissed the card as a "FAKE" - adding that "these are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures".

He said he intends to sue the WSJ, saying the story was "false, malicious, and defamatory”.

While the veracity of the purported birthday card has yet to be confirmed, what is well-documented is Trump's history of doodling.

In his 2008 book Never Give Up, he spoke about offering up some of his doodles for charity to raise funds for the hungry:

And in the past decade, several doodles attributed to the US president have hit the auction circuit, fetching thousands.

The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.

Image source, Reuters

Demands for the release of court documents relating to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein have also been coming from Trump's supporters.

As US Vice-President JD Vance arrived in West Pittson, Pennsylvania, he was greeted by a sign reading: "WHERE IS THE LIST???" - a reference to Epstein's purported client list.

During his presidential campaign Trump promised to declassify Epstein files, including the much-anticipated “list”.

"We put you in office, you ran on this platform," truck driver and Trump supporter Steven Taylor told the BBC. "We didn't ask for it. And now we want it. We demand it. There needs to be accountability. There needs to be justice."

Others remain confident the files will be released. Ed DeLucca, 72, said that when Trump "is ready, he'll let them out".

"There's a reason for it. They'll come out," he added before saying that Maga factions warring over the Epstein files need to "make peace" first.

And some are pinning the blame for the growing pressure on Democrats for failing to declassify more details earlier.

"I don't care. Democrats should have released it when Biden was president," Chrissy Matticks told the BBC. "Democrats are just using it as a political football."

• You can read more about what Trump supporters are saying in our story

Image source, Getty Images

Before he became the central figure in a high-profile sex trafficking case, Jeffrey Epstein was a maths teacher and powerful financier in New York City.

Courting the rich and famous with private jets and lavish parties in the 1980s, Epstein’s business grew to manage hundreds of millions of dollars in clients’ assets.

Among the celebrities he socialised with were US President Donald Trump, former president Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew.

"I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy," Trump told New York magazine in 2002, external.

In 2005, the parents of a 14-year-old girl told police in Florida that Epstein had molested their daughter at his Palm Beach home. He avoided federal charges and instead received an 18-month prison sentence.

Since 2008, Epstein had been listed as a level three on the New York sex offenders register. It was a lifelong designation meaning he was at a high risk of reoffending.

In July 2019, he was arrested in New York on sex trafficking charges, accused of running "a vast network" of underage girls for sex.

After being denied bail, he was held in New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he was found dead in his cell months later.

Image source, Getty Images

US President Donald Trump is facing a mixture of backlash and support over the handling of the Epstein files issue, including from his often loyal political base.

On Thursday, Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said: "If President Trump was guilty of anything regarding Jeffrey Epstein, Democrats would have used it against him the past 4 years."

She also thanked Pam Bondi and Donald Trump, reacting to their announcement that they will unseal grand jury transcripts.

Meanwhile, representative Thomas Massie said on X: "Folks, keep the pressure on, it's working. But we want all the files."

House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday the justice department should release all of its information on the disgraced sex offender.

On Wednesday, he walked back on these comments, saying his words were "misrepresented", and he was clear he was "saying the same thing as the president" and only wants "credible information" released.

Another conservative Republican, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, said on Tuesday the "American people deserve and can handle the truth. Let's see the files".

But other influential Republicans – including senator John Thune and congressman Jim Jordan – deferred to Trump on the matter.

These latest developments come shortly after Trump said he would sue the Wall Street Journal over an article alleging that a "bawdy" birthday greeting bearing his name was sent to Epstein in 2003, before the late financier was charged with sex crimes.

The letter, which the newspaper claims was sent on Epstein's 50th birthday, has been decried by Trump as a "fake".

In a post, Trump says the newspaper and owner Rupert Murdoch "were warned directly" they would be sued if they printed the story, describing it as "false, malicious, and defamatory".

According to the newspaper, a letter bearing Trump's name "contained several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker".

"Inside the outline of the naked woman was a typewritten note styled as an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein, written in the third person," the paper reports.

It reportedly contains a joking reference that “Enigmas never age” and allegedly ends with the words: "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret."

"These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures," Trump said on social media in response to the story.

According to the WSJ, the letter was part of a compilation of birthday greetings that was put together by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of helping Epstein to sex-traffic children and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Image source, Getty Images

While campaigning for the presidency, Donald Trump promised to disclose as yet unreleased files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, after conspiracy theories about them swirled online for years.

Since Trump's return to office in January, some supporters have grown frustrated with his administration's handling of this pledge.

Here’s a look back at the key dates since:

21 February

Attorney General Pam Bondi tells Fox News that a list of Epstein’s clients is “sitting on my desk right now”. The White House later says she was referring to all the files related to Epstein's crimes.

28 February

Bondi accuses federal investigators of withholding thousands of documents related to Epstein, and asks the FBI to release all the information.

26 April

Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual assault, dies by suicide aged 41, her family says. The prince has long denied any wrongdoing.

6 June

Tech billionaire Elon Musk posts on X that Trump is “in the Epstein files”, referring to court documents and evidence thought to have been collected by investigators. The White House rubbishes the post, which Musk deletes.

7 July

The US Department of Justice and FBI conclude in a report that Epstein did not have a so-called client list that could implicate high-profile associates, and that he did take his own life – contradicting long-held conspiracy theories.

17 July

Trump asks Bondi to release "any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony" on Jeffrey Epstein, after what he calls a "ridiculous amount of publicity".

On Thursday, Donald Trump said he had asked his attorney general to "produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony" relating to Jeffrey Epstein, "subject to court approval".

It's unclear whether he was referring to the first set of cases concerning Epstein in the early 2000s or federal charges brought in 2019. The BBC has enquired with the White House.

On Tuesday, Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi should release “whatever she thinks is credible” on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He also questioned the public fascination with the case, describing it as “sordid but boring”.

The president is facing a rare backlash from supporters after seeking to draw a line under the disgraced financier’s case. Over the weekend, Trump urged his supporters not to “waste time and energy” on the controversy.

However, allies of the president, including House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, are calling for “transparency”.

Last week, a memo released by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and FBI concluded Epstein did not have a so-called client list that could implicate high-profile associates, and that he did take his own life - contrary to conspiracies.

During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to declassify Epstein files, including the much-anticipated “list”.

Image source, Getty Images

Overnight, the US president said he had ordered the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to release more court documents relating to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, following pressure from some of his most loyal supporters.

In response, Attorney General Pam Bondi said: "We are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts."

It's unclear if they are referring to the first set of cases concerning Epstein from the early 2000s, or federal charges brought in 2019 - we've asked the White House.

It also doesn't mean we will necessarily see anything released today.

Last week, Bondi said the DoJ did not believe Epstein had a so-called client list that could implicate high-profile associates, and that he did take his own life - contrary to long-held conspiracies.

The US president's decision came shortly after he said he would sue the Wall Street Journal after it reported that Trump's name appeared on a "bawdy" 2003 birthday note to Epstein. It "contained several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker," the publication reports.

"These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures," Trump said.

Stay with us for further updates.