Federal Judge Refuses DOJ Request to Release Epstein Grand Jury Materials

A federal judge, Richard Berman, has denied the Trump administration's request to unseal grand jury records related to Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 indictment, describing the move as a 'diversion' from the extensive files the Department of Justice already possesses. Judge Berman emphasized that the DOJ has compiled approximately 100,000 pages of investigative documents, which far exceed the roughly 70 pages of grand jury materials, and argued that the government is the appropriate entity to release these files to the public. The judge also cited concerns about the privacy and safety of victims and witnesses, noting that the grand jury testimony consisted solely of an FBI agent's hearsay, which weakens the case for disclosure. This ruling follows similar decisions to keep related grand jury records, including those from the case against Ghislaine Maxwell, sealed. The decision underscores ongoing tensions over transparency in the Epstein investigation, with Judge Berman pointing out that the DOJ had initially committed to releasing comprehensive documents but later reversed course. Maxwell, Epstein's former associate, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, while Epstein died in jail awaiting trial.