Florida Judge Denies Trump Request to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Records

A federal judge in Florida denied the Trump administration's request to unseal grand jury records from Jeffrey Epstein's 2005 and 2007 investigations, ruling that the materials did not meet legal exceptions for release. The Justice Department sought transparency amid criticism from President Trump’s supporters, who suspect evidence and identities of Epstein’s clients were deliberately concealed. The transcripts relate to Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal, where he avoided major federal charges by pleading guilty to lesser state crimes. Despite renewed public interest and additional motions to unseal related documents in New York, the judge maintained the grand jury secrecy to protect sensitive victim information. The White House condemned media reports linking Trump to Epstein as “fake news,” while new footage has surfaced showing Trump socializing with Epstein, intensifying scrutiny. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.