A federal judge has rejected a request from the Trump administration’s Justice Department to release sealed Jeffrey Epstein grand jury documents.
Judge Richard Berman ruled that the Justice Department did not provide sufficient legal grounds to override long-standing precedent protecting grand jury materials. He noted that the grand jury transcripts represented only a small portion of the overall Epstein investigation files already held by federal authorities.
“The information contained in the Epstein grand jury transcripts pales in comparison to the Epstein investigation information and materials in the hands of the Department of Justice,” Berman stated in his decision.
This ruling marks the third time a federal judge has refused to unseal Epstein-related grand jury evidence, underscoring the court’s consistent stance on protecting victim privacy and preventing potential safety risks.
DOJ Faces Mounting Pressure Over Epstein Files
The Trump administration had been under pressure to release more details about the Epstein case documents after officials previously promised greater transparency. However, the Justice Department shifted its position in mid-2020, releasing a memo that it would not disclose additional Epstein records—fueling criticism from Democrats, the public, and even Trump’s own supporters.
Attorney General Pam Bondi previously distributed binders of Epstein-related files to conservative social media figures at the White House. Many of those who received them reported that the materials contained no new or significant information.
Third Federal Judge Blocks Release
This latest rejection follows similar rulings by two other judges. In August, Judge Paul Engelmayer denied the DOJ’s attempt to unseal grand jury materials tied to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime partner who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping Epstein groom and abuse underage girls. A separate request in Florida was also quickly denied.
The Justice Department has continued efforts to collect information, including conducting a two-day interview with Maxwell in July. Officials are now working to transcribe a 10-hour audio recording from those sessions.