The US Justice Department has asked a New York judge to unseal grand jury materials from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case, citing strong public interest. The request also covers files related to Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, BBC reported.

The move follows growing pressure on the Trump administration over its handling of the case. President Trump has ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to push for the release, though her earlier hesitation has drawn criticism from supporters.

Meanwhile, Trump has filed a $10bn lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company, Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters over a story claiming he sent a “bawdy” birthday note to Epstein in 2003. Trump denies writing the note, calling it fake and defamatory.

Bipartisan support is building in Congress to force the full release of Epstein-related materials, with lawmakers pushing a petition for transparency, according to BBC.