Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, Bernice King, is calling on former President Donald Trump to release the full, unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein, following the Trump administration’s release of thousands of documents tied to her father’s assassination.
King, 62, issued the call shortly after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the declassification of over 230,000 pages connected to MLK’s 1968 assassination, pledging “complete transparency.”
“Now, do the Epstein files,” King tweeted Monday evening, alongside a photo of her father.
Bernice, who was just five years old when King was killed, joined her brother Martin Luther King III in a statement supporting the release of historical records—but warning against misusing them.
“While we support transparency and historical accountability, we object to any attacks on our father’s legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods,” they said.
Critics Say Document Dump Is a Diversion
Despite the sweeping release of MLK-related materials, civil rights leaders questioned the timing and motives behind it.
The King Center—led by Bernice King—called the release a distraction.
“It is unfortunate and ill-timed, given the myriad of pressing issues and injustices affecting the United States and the global society,” the organization said.
Rev. Al Sharpton went further, accusing Trump of using the files to divert attention from his own controversies.
“This is not about justice or transparency,” Sharpton said. “It’s a desperate attempt to shift focus from the Epstein scandal and the crumbling trust Trump faces within his MAGA base.”
Epstein Pressure Mounts
Trump is facing increasing calls to release all remaining documents related to Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. The outcry intensified after the Wall Street Journal reported Trump once sent Epstein a risqué 50th birthday card.
Despite repeated public pressure, the Trump administration recently concluded that there is “no evidence” Epstein had a formal client list—an assertion many view with skepticism.
Trump has downplayed the scandal, dismissing it as a “hoax” pushed by Democrats. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders accuse him of deflection.
“Why are President Obama and President Biden’s names being thrown around?” asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday. “Because Donald Trump is running scared.”
One day after the damaging WSJ report, Trump requested the unsealing of grand jury transcripts related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. However, some legal experts say the move is largely performative.
“It’s unlikely to reveal anything meaningful,” a former prosecutor told The Independent. “It’s more about creating the appearance of action than delivering any real accountability.”
As Trump tries to fend off both political and legal fallout, critics and activists alike say one thing is clear: selective transparency isn’t enough.
