When It Comes to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump Says He Is Ready to Defer to the Courts

For months, President Trump has maligned federal judges who rule against his agenda as politically motivated usurpers, referring to them as “U.S.A.-hating judges” and calling for their impeachment. At times, he has called into question the constitutional role of the courts as a check on the presidency.

“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” he posted to social media, while his administration claimed expansive powers to unilaterally deport migrants and defund federal programs.

But in the case of Jeffrey Epstein, Mr. Trump has taken a different view. In this instance, according to a statement the president posted Thursday night, judges have an important role to play in deciding whether and when grand jury materials related to Mr. Epstein’s indictment for sex trafficking can be released to the public.

“I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,” Mr. Trump said on social media on Thursday. The post came shortly after The Wall Street Journal reported on a 50th birthday greeting it said Mr. Trump sent Mr. Epstein in 2003, including a sexually suggestive drawing, an expression of friendship and a reference to secrets they shared. The New York Times has not verified the report.

The idea that a judge should make the final decision about the release of grand jury testimony is normal criminal procedure. “It is illegal to release this material,” Benjamin Wittes, the chief editor of Lawfare and a fellow at the Brookings Institution, wrote in an article arguing against its release. “It’s not a choice the attorney general gets to make.”

Evidence presented to the grand jury often includes sensitive information and unproven allegations. The proceeding are kept secret to help gather evidence from witnesses and protect targets of a criminal investigation who might not ultimately be charged.