Last week, Trump posted on social media that the controversy around possible federal files on sex offender Epstein was a hoax perpetrated by Democrats that "some stupid Republicans" believed. He later asked the justice department to seek court approval to release testimony taken during grand jury proceedings against Epstein.

The latest effort by Trump subordinates is intended to quell a political crisis precipitated by the department’s announcement that it would not release more files related to the Epstein investigation.