A federal judge in New York has denied the Department of Justice’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the sex trafficking case involving the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman issued the ruling Wednesday in Manhattan, just weeks after the judge overseeing Ghislaine Maxwell’s case similarly rejected the government’s bid.
Why It Matters
Maxwell, a British socialite and longtime associate of Epstein, is serving a 20-year prison sentence following her conviction for sex trafficking and aiding Epstein in the sexual abuse of underage girls and young women.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment on the latest ruling.
What To Know
Berman pushed back on the administration’s effort to revive interest in the politically charged Epstein case, ruling against a DOJ request for grand jury records.
The judge wrote that “the information contained in the Epstein grand jury transcripts pales in comparison” to the investigation materials already in the Justice Department’s hands. He called the DOJ’s motion “a diversion,” questioning its necessity and any real public benefit.
The DOJ had sought access to transcripts and exhibits from the grand jury that indicted Epstein in July 2019, just weeks before his death in federal custody. Officials argued the move was part of a broader transparency push announced earlier this year.
Berman rejected the request, citing legal precedent and privacy concerns.
“No victims testified before the Epstein grand jury,” he said, adding that releasing the files could pose “possible threats to victims’ safety and privacy.”
Associated Press
The grand jury’s scope was also narrow. Only one witness, an FBI agent with no direct knowledge of the case, testified, and most of the testimony was hearsay. The supporting materials, including a PowerPoint presentation and a call log, will also remain sealed.
While the administration has framed its push as a transparency measure, judges have consistently stressed the importance of protecting grand jury secrecy. Berman said the government is the “logical party” to release Epstein files more broadly, but warned that court-ordered restrictions must remain in place.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, when asked about a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell: “Well, I’m allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody’s approached me with it, nobody’s asked me about it. It’s in the news about that—that aspect of it, but right now it would be inappropriate to talk about it.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, on X: “It’s bad enough that Deputy AG Todd Blanche used to be Trump’s own lawyer. Now he’s skirting DOJ protocols to interview Ghislaine Maxwell in secret? Everything about this reeks—and it brings zero transparency to the Epstein case. Release all the files and transcripts now!”
What Happens Next
The case has become a flashpoint for partisan accusations of cover-ups and media bias. The Justice Department has been under increasing pressure, both internally and from conservative allies, to make good on earlier promises of full disclosure.
Update 8/20/25, 3:07 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
