Judge Blocks Release of Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts

A US federal judge, Richard Berman, has denied the Trump administration's request to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking case. This decision follows a similar rejection by the judge overseeing the case against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend. The Justice Department had also agreed to provide Congress with documents from the investigation, and the House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for case files.

Judge Berman's ruling prevents the release of grand jury testimony, as it aligns with previous decisions. A federal judge in Florida had previously declined to release similar documents from investigations in 2005 and 2007. These rulings collectively reject the Justice Department's efforts, suggesting the sealed documents likely won't satisfy public interest.

President Trump had called for the release of transcripts amid scrutiny of his past involvement with Epstein. During the previous presidential campaign, Trump promised to release files, but the limited records released by his Justice Department lacked new information.

Judge Berman cited a "significant and compelling reason" for rejecting the government's request, stating that the information in the Epstein grand jury transcripts is less significant than the investigative materials held by the Justice Department. He noted the government's vast collection of Epstein files compared to the limited grand jury materials.

Judge Berman suggested the government should make a comprehensive disclosure of the Epstein files, implying the grand jury motion was a "diversion." He highlighted that the grand jury testimony was largely hearsay. The Justice Department informed Judge Berman that the only witness was an FBI agent with no direct knowledge of the case, whose testimony was primarily hearsay.

The agent testified over two days, and the grand jury presentation included a PowerPoint slide show and a call log. Both will remain sealed. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein's sex-trafficking crimes.

The Justice Department's decision not to release additional documents from the Epstein investigation sparked public outcry. Trump administration officials have since attempted to portray themselves as promoting transparency, including by seeking to unseal grand jury transcripts.

Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell, and the House Oversight Committee also expressed interest in speaking with her. Maxwell's lawyers indicated they would consider an interview if immunity from prosecution was guaranteed. The committee chair, Representative James Comer, stated the committee would not provide immunity or share questions in advance of her testimony.