A federal judge denied the Trump administration’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein’s 2005 and 2007 Florida investigations. U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg in West Palm Beach ruled Wednesday that the Justice Department did not prove the transcripts met exceptions for public release under federal law. Meanwhile, a similar request remains pending for grand jury materials from New York.
The Justice Department last week pushed for transparency to calm supporters of President Donald Trump. They claimed a conspiracy protected Epstein’s clients and hid evidence, including crime videos. However, Judge Rosenberg found no legal basis to make these transcripts public.
In 2008, Epstein reached a controversial plea deal with Florida prosecutors. Instead of facing severe federal charges, he pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche requested transcripts from grand jury sessions that led to indictments against Epstein and the former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. He emphasized that transparency is a top priority for this administration.
Federal grand juries operate in secret, reviewing only enough evidence to support indictments. Experts warn that transcripts might reveal little since prosecutors focus on presenting sufficient proof, not all investigative details.
Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell faced charges for assisting his abuse of teenage girls. Epstein died in jail a month after the arrest, with officials ruling his death a suicide. Maxwell was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The Epstein case attracted widespread attention because of his connections to influential figures like royals, presidents, and billionaires. It also fueled conspiracy theories among Trump’s supporters.
The Justice Department amplified the controversy by handing out binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “Declassified” to far-right influencers in February. These binders mainly contained documents already available to the public. On July 7, the department clarified that Epstein never had a client list and announced it would not release any more files.
The FBI and Justice Department issued a two-page memo stating no further disclosure would be appropriate. Although no individual signed it, the memo emphasized the department’s decision to close the file publicly.
In a related development, a House Oversight subcommittee voted Wednesday to issue a Justice Department subpoenafor relevant files. The full committee subpoenaed Maxwell to testify in August. Senator Adam Schiff also demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The unfolding events continue to highlight tensions around the Justice Department subpoena and calls for transparency about Epstein’s case. The Justice Department subpoena plays a central role in congressional efforts to uncover more information.
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