Donald Trump's Epstein Problem Isn't Going Away as he Plans to Reopen Alcatraz
Trump authorized AG Bondi to seek release of sealed Epstein grand jury documents amid backlash from supporters over his 15-year friendship with the financier.
By Aaron Parnas•July 18, 2025•5 min read
Legal Analysis
Good morning everyone. As Donald Trump continues facing the fallout of the Epstein files debacle, this is going to be a very busy morning. If you believe in honest journalism that doesn’t bend to corporate interests or political pressure… if you believe in journalism that’s willing to hold Trump and those in power accountable… then I’m asking you to subscribe. Thank you for your support, truly.
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With that, here’s the news:
Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were close friends for 15 years, frequently socializing at events and parties together—including at Mar-a-Lago—before falling out in 2004; despite Trump later downplaying the relationship and calling Epstein “not a fan,” numerous photos, videos, and accounts reveal a long-standing, intimate friendship, which has since resurfaced as a contentious issue with Trump’s supporters demanding transparency around Epstein’s ties, leading to political fallout and public backlash.
Trump denied writing a “bawdy” birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein featured in a Wall Street Journal report and announced plans to sue the publication, while authorizing Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of sealed grand jury documents related to Epstein’s case to counter growing backlash among his supporters.Attorney General Bondi can *request* to have the grand jury documents released, but ultimately it will be up to a federal court whether to release the documents or not. Grand jury documents are highly secretive and protected, and it is unlikely that these documents will be released.
Attorney General Bondi can *request* to have the grand jury documents released, but ultimately it will be up to a federal court whether to release the documents or not. Grand jury documents are highly secretive and protected, and it is unlikely that these documents will be released.
Donald Trump woke up extremely defensive this morning putting out this Truth Social Post:
Trump said he does not “draw” pictures in response to the Wall Street Journal, but more and more pictures Trump drew are being released, like this one:
Fallout from the Epstein controversy disrupted GOP legislative efforts, with Republicans facing internal division over transparency, MAGA supporters publicly burning hats in protest, and wider criticism as unrelated scandals mounted—including a controversial ICE data-sharing deal, Trump’s health diagnosis, Pentagon emissions revelations, and protests across all 50 states.
CBS has cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ending the program’s 33-year run in May; Colbert announced the news after learning the decision the night before, criticizing CBS’s parent company Paramount for settling a $16M lawsuit with Donald Trump—which he called “a big fat bribe”—amid the company’s pending $8.4B merger with Skydance Media.
The House approved Donald Trump’s $9 billion rescissions package, cutting funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid programs—including $1.1B for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and nearly $8B from humanitarian and development aid—despite bipartisan concerns about executive overreach and weakened global influence; it marks the first successful presidential rescission in decades and signals more cuts may follow.
Donald Trump’s proposal to reopen Alcatraz as a maximum-security prison could cost around $2 billion, according to administration sources, reviving the long-closed facility—which shut down in 1963 due to high operating costs—to house violent offenders once again.
After being fired from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office, Maurene Comey warned colleagues that “fear is the tool of a tyrant,” urging them not to let fear influence their decisions, and calling for continued dedication to truth, justice, and independence amid political pressure; she emphasized that her firing—without stated cause—threatens the DOJ’s integrity, and criticized abuses of power, asserting: “Let this moment fuel the fire... of righteous indignation at abuses of power.”
Dozens protested in Kuala Lumpur against Donald Trump’s nomination of Nick Adams as US ambassador to Malaysia, denouncing his right-wing, pro-Israel views as racist and Islamophobic; the demonstrators, led by youth wings of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition, called on the US to withdraw the nomination and choose a more moderate, regionally attuned candidate.
Donald Trump slammed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as a “numbskull” and blamed the entire Fed Board for not stopping him from “hurting so many people,” while renewing calls for lower interest rates ahead of the Fed’s upcoming meeting later this month.
Five migrants deported by the US to Eswatini under Trump’s third-country program will be held in solitary confinement indefinitely, with Eswatini claiming a UN agency will repatriate them—though the agency says it hasn’t been contacted; the men, from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos, were reportedly convicted of serious crimes in the US.
ACA insurers are proposing the largest premium hikes since 2018—averaging 15%, with some over 20%—due to expiring Biden-era subsidies and Trump administration policies, including upcoming pharmaceutical tariffs and regulatory changes under Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”; without an extension of enhanced subsidies, premiums for many enrollees could spike by 75% in 2026, KFF reports.
Beef prices in the U.S. have hit record highs, with ground beef averaging $6.12/lb and steaks $11.49/lb, due to a shrinking cattle herd, ongoing drought, high feed costs, and import disruptions from a flesh-eating pest in Mexico; looming Trump-era tariffs on imported lean beef could further increase prices, while experts say relief is unlikely until at least 2027.
Donald Trump will visit Scotland from July 25 to 29, touring his golf courses in Turnberry and Menie, and is set to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Aberdeen, with plans also underway for a meeting with Scottish First Minister John Swinney.
Brazilian police raided former President Jair Bolsonaro’s home and political HQ, seized cash, ordered him to wear an ankle tag, and barred foreign contact as he stands trial for allegedly plotting to overturn the 2022 election—amid escalating U.S.-Brazil tensions with Trump threatening tariffs unless the trial stops.
