Dhaka, July 19 -- The U.S. Justice Department has requested a judge to unseal documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following heavy criticism over the Trump administration's handling of the case.

The request involves transcripts from the grand jury that oversaw the government's 2019 sex trafficking case against Epstein. These materials are generally protected by law and kept confidential.

The court filing came as President Trump launched a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal's parent company, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters over a report alleging he sent a "bawdy" personal note to Epstein in 2003.

Trump has dismissed the note-reportedly sent for Epstein's 50th birthday-as "fake." On Thursday, he d...