Federal Judge Denies DOJ Bid to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts in Florida
by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to unseal grand jury transcripts from a 2005-2007 investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, marking a setback in President Donald Trump’s push for greater transparency in the high-profile sex trafficking case.
U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg, an Obama appointee, ruled that the DOJ had not met the legal threshold required to override grand jury secrecy. In her 12-page decision, Rosenberg stated, “The Court’s hands are tied–a point the Government concedes,” citing Eleventh Circuit precedent that strictly limits disclosure of grand jury materials. She also denied the DOJ’s request to transfer the matter to the Southern District of New York.
The denied transcripts relate to Epstein’s initial federal investigation in South Florida, which ultimately ended with a controversial non-prosecution agreement. Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution, serving just 13 months in a county jail under lenient conditions.
The Department of Justice, under President Trump’s directive, had cited “extensive public interest” in its bid to release the records. The administration has also filed similar motions in New York, seeking to unseal transcripts tied to Epstein’s 2019 indictment and the 2020 charges against his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
In Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, also appointed by President Obama, signaled he would not automatically grant full access to Maxwell’s legal team. While he ordered the government to produce the transcripts by July 28 for his private review, he maintained, “There is no justification for Maxwell to obtain the extraordinary relief of plenary access.” He added that Maxwell’s team may only be permitted to see portions of the material if the court deems it helpful to the proceedings.
Maxwell’s attorneys had argued for access to the grand jury documents to respond to court orders concerning the public release of records in her case. However, the court rejected their claim, finding no compelling legal reason.
President Trump has publicly criticized the media coverage of the Epstein case and called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue the release of grand jury materials, arguing that the American people deserve transparency.
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently submitted a motion in New York to unseal the 2019 and 2020 grand jury proceedings tied to Epstein and Maxwell. The Justice Department also released a memorandum earlier this month detailing an internal review of its Epstein files, concluding that there is no evidence to bring charges against any additional individuals.
Epstein was indicted in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving dozens of underage girls but died by apparent suicide a month later in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial. His death triggered widespread speculation and intensified calls for public access to sealed records related to his crimes and alleged accomplices.
Wednesday’s ruling in Florida is the first in a series of judicial decisions that will determine whether the public ever gains access to the full scope of Epstein’s grand jury proceedings.
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