Florida Judge Denies Trump DOJ Request to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts

A federal judge in Florida denied the Trump administration's request to unseal grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein investigations conducted in 2005 and 2007, citing the lack of a specific legal exception under federal rules. Judge Robin Rosenberg emphasized that district courts are generally prohibited from releasing grand jury materials unless certain rare conditions are met, which the administration failed to demonstrate. The Justice Department sought to release the documents in response to public interest and to address conspiracy theories among President Donald Trump's supporters alleging protection of Epstein's clients and suppression of evidence. While the Florida request was denied, a similar petition to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell remains pending in New York. Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a minor for prostitution, later faced federal sex trafficking charges before his death in 2019, and Maxwell was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The case continues to attract significant public attention due to Epstein and Maxwell's connections to prominent figures and ongoing legal developments.