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- DOJ seeks release of Epstein grand jury material in Florida (abcnews.go.com)
Justice Department Pushes to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts as Deadline Looms
The Justice Department is once again seeking to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the initial federal investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, citing the recent passage of the Epstein Transparency Act. This move comes as the department faces a 30-day deadline to release its files on Epstein.
In a Friday filing, the DOJ argued that the newly enacted law requires the public production of these grand jury materials, asserting they are not exempt from the act’s mandate. The Epstein Transparency Act, which passed Congress with overwhelming support, compels the government to make public “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials.” However, it does not specifically mention grand jury material.
The DOJ’s request, made on November 21st, urges the Florida federal court to rule swiftly to ensure compliance with the 30-day timeline set by the bill. This new request focuses on federal grand jury transcripts from 2005 and 2007, originating from the first federal investigation into Epstein in Florida.
Beyond the transcripts, the DOJ has also asked the court to lift a protective order over the case. They have committed to making “appropriate redactions of victim-related and other personal identifying information” to protect individuals.
This latest effort follows previous attempts by the DOJ over the summer to unseal grand jury materials in cases involving both Epstein and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell in New York and Florida courts. Those earlier requests were ultimately denied by judges.
The previous push for transparency was sparked by public outcry regarding the administration’s handling of the Epstein matter. This included a DOJ memo stating there was no evidence Epstein maintained a “client list” for blackmail or conspiracy, and confirmation of his death by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell, who has consistently maintained her innocence, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in Texas for child sex trafficking and other offenses connected to Epstein.
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