NEW YORK – A judge has ruled that the secret grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case can now be made public. This decision follows similar rulings from two other judges, responding to a request from the Justice Department to unveil investigative materials regarding the late financier’s sexual abuse.
U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman overturned a previous ruling that kept the documents confidential, pointing to a new law that mandates the government release files concerning Epstein and his close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Berman had earlier indicated that the approximately 70 pages of grand jury documents expected to be released didn’t contain any astonishing revelations.
On Tuesday, another judge in Manhattan directed that records from Maxwell’s 2021 sex trafficking case be disclosed. Additionally, last week, a Florida judge allowed the release of federal grand jury investigation records from the 2000s that had been abandoned in Epstein’s case.
The Justice Department sought the lifting of secrecy orders after the Epstein File Transparency Act was signed into law by President Trump last month, creating exceptions to the normal rule of confidentiality regarding grand jury proceedings.
This law requires the Justice Department to disclose records related to Epstein by December 19.
Throughout President Trump’s second term, questions about the Epstein file have loomed, generating pressure on Republicans, especially since he veered away from a campaign promise to release the documents. While some files were made public recently, critics expressed disappointment as many had already been available.
Epstein, who was infamous for his connections with celebrities, powerful politicians, and the elite, died by suicide in prison a month after his arrest in 2019. Maxwell, convicted of sex trafficking in 2021, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
In a filing, the Justice Department informed Judge Berman that the only witness who had testified before the Epstein grand jury was an FBI agent. They argued that since the judge lacked firsthand knowledge of the facts, the testimony was largely based on hearsay. The agent testified over two sessions, and the grand jury’s presentation included a PowerPoint slideshow and a call transcript. The grand jury concluded with a vote to indict Epstein on July 2, but Berman ruled that those documents will also remain sealed.
