A federal judge in Florida has denied a request from the Trump administration to make public the grand jury transcripts related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg stated that she was unable to authorize the release.
“The law of the Eleventh Circuit [federal appeals court] does not allow this Court to grant the Government’s request; the Court’s hands are tied—a point the Government acknowledges,” she noted in a 12-page opinion, as reported by Fox News.
The Trump administration had sought to unseal the transcripts from the Florida grand jury proceedings associated with the initial federal investigation into Epstein.
This initiative was part of a larger demand for transparency regarding Epstein’s sex trafficking network. The grand juries in question convened in 2005 and 2007.
Ultimately, that investigation concluded with Epstein pleading guilty to state charges and serving 13 months in jail, after federal prosecutors agreed not to pursue federal sex trafficking charges.
In a different courtroom on Wednesday, another judge rejected a similar request from Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate. Maxwell’s attorneys sought access to the Florida grand jury records to address an ongoing judicial review regarding potential public release.
Judge Paul Engelmayer dismissed the request, stating there was “no compelling reason for that.”
“There is no justification for Maxwell to receive the extraordinary relief of plenary access to the grand jury transcripts in her case,” the judge remarked.
Nevertheless, Engelmayer indicated that the government must provide the transcripts to the court by July 28.
He mentioned that the court would review them “expeditiously” and that if any section of the transcripts would benefit from input by Maxwell’s legal team, the court would share that part with them. Wednesday’s ruling marked the first official obstacle in President Donald Trump’s efforts to declassify Epstein case files.
Last week, Trump stated that Attorney General Pam Bondi had been directed to pursue the release of grand jury transcripts due to the excessive publicity surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.
Additionally, the administration has submitted a request in Manhattan federal court to unseal grand jury records related to Epstein’s 2019 indictment and the prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed that motion, referencing a public interest in comprehending the complete scope of the case.
Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI published a joint memo detailing the findings of an “exhaustive review” of all investigative files associated with Epstein.
This internal review revealed no new evidence that would warrant charges against any other unindicted individuals.
Epstein was 66 years old at the time of his indictment in New York in 2019. He tragically died by suicide in his jail cell just weeks later.
On Tuesday, the Department of Justice confirmed that it has reached out to Ghislaine Maxwell for a meeting, in light of the increasing criticism regarding the administration’s management of the Epstein case.
“Justice requires courage. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to inquire: what do you know?” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche remarked in a post on X. “At @AGPamBondi’s instruction, I’ve contacted her counsel. I plan to meet with her soon. No one is above the law—and no lead is off-limits,” CNN reported.
In a separate statement released by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Blanche further stated, “If Ghislaine Maxwell possesses information regarding anyone who has perpetrated crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will be receptive to her insights.”
Maxwell’s attorney confirmed to CNN that they are “in discussions with the government.”
“Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We appreciate President Trump’s dedication to revealing the truth in this case,” attorney David Oscar Markus expressed.
On Tuesday, President Trump stated that he was not informed about the Department of Justice’s outreach, although he expressed his support for it.
“I was unaware that they intended to proceed with it. I do not closely monitor that matter. It resembles a witch hunt,” Trump remarked to reporters in the Oval Office. Nevertheless, he commended Blanche and indicated that the action “seems appropriate.”