Judge demands release of Epstein grand jury records in Florida case

A federal judge in Florida has instructed the release of grand jury transcripts from the federal sex trafficking case involving convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, as reported by The Associated Press. This decision follows new legislation requiring the Department of Justice to make the case files public.

On Friday, District Judge Rodney Smith determined that the Epstein Files Transparency Act supersedes federal rules that typically prevent the disclosure of grand jury documents. The bill, signed by President Donald Trump in November, set a Dec. 19 deadline for the DOJ to provide access to the Epstein investigation materials.

Although the judge confirmed that the files must be released, no specific timeline was provided by authorities, and the DOJ has not yet announced when the documents will become available.

Earlier this week, House Democrats unveiled previously unseen photographs and videos of Epstein's private island.

The government requested court approval to include grand jury records among the files mandated for release. Normally, grand jury proceedings are kept confidential. However, the new law allows the DOJ to withhold documents if their release could jeopardize ongoing investigations, a practice consistent with existing departmental policy. Classified information or materials concerning national defense and foreign policy may also be withheld.

The requested files pertain to three separate Epstein-related cases, specifically focusing on the grand jury inquiry in West Palm Beach, Florida, where authorities investigated reports that Epstein exploited underage girls. The investigation concluded after Epstein reached a controversial plea deal, admitting guilt to state solicitation charges involving one minor. Additionally, he entered a secret non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors.

It remains unclear how many of the disclosed documents will contain new information. The files were previously held by federal prosecutors in New York when they filed sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, and much of the material surfaced during civil lawsuits filed by his victims.

Author: Benjamin Carter