A second federal judge has denied the Justice Department’s request to make court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s case public. The Trump administration has criticized this move, arguing that it serves as a “disincentive” regarding a transcript of a significant trial tied to Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal investigation.
US District Court Judge Paul Engelmeyer for the Southern District of New York stated on Monday that the Department of Justice’s claims about the significance of the materials in question, labeled “Great Juice,” are misguided, according to a report. Engelmeyer described the government’s argument for making these documents accessible as “dishonest,” asserting that their release would not provide any valuable new information.
He suggested that members of the public might conclude that the government’s push for disclosure is more about distraction than genuine transparency. Engelmeyer argued that, contrary to the government’s portrayal, the testimony from the Maxwell trial lacks historical importance and essentially comes from two law enforcement interviews.
This ruling follows a similar decision made three weeks ago by a federal judge in Florida, who also denied the administration’s request for a vague transcript related to a two-decade-old criminal investigation involving Epstein in that state.
Judge Robin Rosenberg, from the Southern District of Florida, wrote in her denial that a previous ruling by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals does not permit her to disclose large jury records in cases that don’t comply with the Rules of Criminal Procedure.
In response to the transcript debate, the Justice Department emphasized a strong public interest in understanding Epstein’s historical investigation. They argued that many of the reasons for keeping the grand jury materials confidential have diminished over time. July was referenced in relation to Epstein’s suicide.
Similar to Rosenberg, Engelmeyer relied on a past legal ruling, stating that the principle that grand jury materials should remain generally secret is a longstanding one.
The Justice Department’s stance regarding Epstein has drawn criticism from lawmakers and some Trump supporters, leading to heightened interest from the administration. Attorney General Pam Bondi has labeled the Democrats’ accusations surrounding this lawsuit as “fraud” and “hoax,” insisting on the release of all relevant grand jury testimony pending court approval.
