Judge Rejects Trump’s Request for Sealed Transcript in Epstein Case

A federal judge has denied the Trump administration’s attempt to access a sealed transcript related to a long-running criminal investigation involving Jeffrey Epstein. US District Judge Robin Rosenberg, based in the Southern District of Florida, stated that her “hands are tied” regarding the decision.

In her ruling, Judge Rosenberg referenced a 2020 decision from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, indicating that it does not permit her to establish a record in cases outside the scope of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, as reported by CNBC.

Rosenberg noted, “The 11th Circuit does not allow this court to grant government requests. It’s a position the government acknowledges.”

President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) had petitioned the U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, Florida, seeking transcripts from two significant grand jury proceedings held in 2005 and 2007.

In their discussions regarding the typically sealed transcripts, the DOJ emphasized “a strong public interest in Jeffrey Epstein’s historical research.”

They also argued that many reasons for maintaining the secrecy of the transcripts no longer apply since Epstein’s death in 2019.

A memo from the DOJ, led by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, argued that there was no proof that Epstein’s “client list” would pose a threat to anyone.

However, the details provided by the DOJ, as outlined in Rosenberg’s Wednesday decision, do not meet the criteria for any exceptions to the rules governing transcripts.

It’s important to note that Judge Rosenberg’s ruling won’t impact two other pending DOJ requests regarding grand jury transcripts connected to the investigation that led to indictments of Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2019 and 2020.

Following backlash from lawmakers and supporters regarding the DOJ’s findings on Epstein, interest from the Trump administration was sparked. President Trump has frequently branded the investigations a “hoax” and criticized Bondi’s work on producing relevant testimonies.