Federal Judge Blocks Release of Maxwell Grand Jury Testimony

U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer has ruled against the Justice Department's request to release secret grand jury transcripts from Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking case. The judge emphasized that unsealing the materials would risk undermining the foundational secrecy of grand juries and erode public trust in future proceedings. He also noted that the transcripts would not reveal any new or significant information beyond what was already publicly available from Maxwell’s trial, rejecting the government's argument that releasing them would address public suspicions about Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department had sought to release the files following criticism over limited disclosures related to Epstein, but the transcripts contained no testimony from non-law enforcement witnesses. Engelmayer’s ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to protecting grand jury confidentiality despite ongoing public interest in the Epstein-Maxwell case. The decision reflects judicial caution about balancing transparency with the need to preserve the integrity of legal processes.