Public interest drives Epstein case update as the Department of Justice (DOJ) pushes to release long-hidden grand jury transcripts.
At the request of Attorney General Pam Bondi, the DOJ filed a motion in Manhattan federal court on Friday. Officials asked the judge to unseal grand jury records from the Jeffrey Epstein case. They also included transcripts from Ghislaine Maxwell’s prosecution in the filing.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche submitted the motion. He argued that transparency now outweighs traditional grand jury secrecy in this case.
Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI issued a memo after an extensive internal review of Epstein-related files. That memo confirmed no new charges would be filed against uncharged individuals. Despite that, public interest in the Epstein casehas continued to grow.
The motion stresses that “transparency is of the utmost importance to this Administration.” Therefore, the DOJ believes releasing the records will help restore public trust.
Blanche added that the department will protect victims’ identities. Prosecutors will remove names and identifying information before releasing any transcripts. “Transparency will not come at the cost of victim protection,” the DOJ stated in its filing.
Jeffrey Epstein faced indictment on July 2, 2019, for sex trafficking minors. He died in jail just weeks later on August 10. After his death, the court dismissed the charges.
Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was indicted in 2020 and convicted in 2021. She is currently serving a 20-year sentence. Her appeal failed in 2024, and she has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.
Ordinarily, grand jury proceedings stay sealed. However, the DOJ argues this case presents an extraordinary situation. Courts sometimes allow releases when cases involve strong public interest, history, or both.
The DOJ noted a Florida judge unsealed some Epstein records in 2023. That judge described Epstein as “the most infamous pedophile in American history.” The DOJ believes these records are essential to understanding a key moment in U.S. justice. “The time for guessing what they contain must end,” the DOJ argued. Public interest in the Epstein case continues to pressure the justice system to act.
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