Obama Judge Denies Trump Request to Unseal Maxwell Epstein Grand Jury Files

A federal judge in Manhattan rejected President Donald Trump's administration's request to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer ruled that the materials would not provide meaningful new information about Epstein's or Maxwell's crimes, the government's investigation, or Epstein's death, which has been officially ruled a suicide. The judge also noted that much of the requested information had already been made public during Maxwell's 2021 trial, and he suggested the administration's request was more about creating an illusion of transparency than genuine disclosure. The decision came amid criticism from Trump's supporters who believed the administration was not fully transparent and were frustrated by prior statements that no further Epstein-related materials would be released. Epstein, who died in 2019 awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was a wealthy financier with ties to many powerful individuals, fueling conspiracy theories about his death and network. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, and victims of Epstein and his associates have expressed support for releasing related materials, though the judge found the legal standards for unsealing were not met.