President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that calls for the release of grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are driven by "troublemakers and radical left lunatics." He made these comments on social media, suggesting that even if the courts approve the release, it would not satisfy critics.

Trump's remarks came a day after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a request with federal judges to unseal grand jury testimonies in the Epstein case. This request follows Trump's earlier directive to Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of all pertinent grand jury testimony, pending court approval.

In his post, Trump emphasized that the pressure for transparency from critics has been ongoing. He wrote, "Even if the Court gave its full and unwavering approval, nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request. It will always be more, more, more."

The DOJ's filing noted that the request for grand jury testimony is in response to significant public interest. The department plans to collaborate with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to redact any victim-related information before releasing the transcripts. The filing stated, "Transparency in this process will not be at the expense of our obligation under the law to protect victims."

Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal child sex trafficking charges. Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022.

Despite Trump's previous social ties with Epstein, he has distanced himself from the financier, claiming they had a falling out 15 years prior to Epstein's arrest. Trump's name has appeared multiple times on Epstein's flight logs, but he has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the case.

Former federal prosecutor Sarah Krissoff commented that the DOJ's request may not yield significant new information. She explained that grand jury testimony typically provides a limited overview of the case, stating, "The grand jury testimony is going to be very limited compared to the entire case file. It's just going to be a real, high-level review."

Krissoff, who has experience with the Southern District of New York, noted that prosecutors often present a slim amount of evidence to the grand jury, focusing on what is necessary to secure an indictment. Given the evidence already made public through civil lawsuits and Maxwell's trial, she expressed skepticism that the transcripts would alter public understanding of the case.

"I understand that the president wants to appease some folks by disclosing the grand jury testimony, but I just don't see that as really shedding a light on much here," Krissoff said.