"Innocent people shouldn’t be hurt but I’m in support of keeping it totally open, I couldn’t care less," Trump said during a White House event Aug 22.

President Donald Trump says he is worried about "innocent people" who "don't deserve to be" mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein files being hurt as the Justice Department turns over records from the case to Congress, but said he has encouraged DOJ to release more documents.

"Innocent people shouldn’t be hurt but I’m in support of keeping it totally open, I couldn’t care less," Trump said during a White House event Aug. 22. "You got a lot of people that could be mentioned in those files that don’t deserve to be… because he knew everybody in Palm Beach."

Despite his concerns, Trump said he told Attorney General Pam Bondi "give them everything you can give them."

The House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for the Epstein records Aug. 5 and Committee Chair James Comer said he expected to receive the first batch of records from DOJ Aug 22.

The administration's attempt to close the book on Epstein - a wealthy convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges - has generated intense criticism, including from Trump's MAGA base.

New York's chief medical examiner ruled Epstein's death a suicide, but some – including many Trump loyalists – have questioned that finding and whether the government is shielding Epstein's potential clients from public view.

The Justice Department released a memo July 7 stating that a "systematic review" of documents "revealed no incriminating 'client list,'" and "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted."

The Trump administration began backpeddling amid criticism, seeking the release of grand jury records. Lawmakers have sought a fuller disclosure of records.

Republicans on the House Committee have also issued deposition subpoenas to former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as former top federal law enforcement officials including James Comey, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, Robert Mueller, William Barr, Jeff Sessions and Alberto Gonzales. Those are scheduled to get underway this month.

Trump mentioned Clinton and former Clinton Treasury Secretary Larry Summers in his comments Aug. 22, noting Clinton flew on Epstein's plane. He described Summers as Epstein's "best friend."

Trump had a longstanding relationship with Epstein. Bondi told the president he is named in the Epstein files, according to media reports.