ORLANDO, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida has ordered the release of grand jury transcripts from the federal sex trafficking cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith stated that the newly passed Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the disclosure of records related to these cases, supersedes previous federal rules concerning the confidentiality of grand jury information.
Signed by President Donald Trump last month, this act compels the Justice Department, FBI, and federal prosecutors to disclose a significant amount of evidence collected during investigations into Epstein’s activities by December 19.
The Justice Department has also requested the unsealing of documents from three related Epstein cases: a 2006-2007 grand jury investigation in Florida, Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case in New York, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 case, also in New York. While the Florida request was approved, the New York requests are still pending. Federal judges in those cases are expected to make decisions promptly, especially as the Justice Department approaches a deadline to respond to various submissions from victims, Epstein’s estate, and Maxwell’s legal team.
As of Friday, responses were not forthcoming from federal prosecutors involved in the Florida case regarding inquiries about the proceedings.
Signed by President Donald Trump last month, this act compels the Justice Department, FBI, and federal prosecutors to disclose a significant amount of evidence collected during investigations into Epstein’s activities by December 19.
The Justice Department has also requested the unsealing of documents from three related Epstein cases: a 2006-2007 grand jury investigation in Florida, Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case in New York, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 case, also in New York. While the Florida request was approved, the New York requests are still pending. Federal judges in those cases are expected to make decisions promptly, especially as the Justice Department approaches a deadline to respond to various submissions from victims, Epstein’s estate, and Maxwell’s legal team.
As of Friday, responses were not forthcoming from federal prosecutors involved in the Florida case regarding inquiries about the proceedings.
