US federal judge orders the disclosure of Epstein grand jury materials

A federal judge in Florida has mandated the publication of grand jury transcripts from the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking investigations, citing a newly enacted federal law that overrides standard secrecy rules.

US District Judge Rodney Smith ruled that the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law last month by Donald Trump, takes precedence over federal restrictions that normally prevent the release of grand jury records. The ruling on Friday approved the Justice Departments request to make public documents from the 2006-2007 federal grand jury probe into Epstein in Florida. Earlier attempts to release these transcripts had been blocked by a different judge earlier this year.

The Justice Department has been seeking the disclosure of materials from three separate investigations linked to Epstein. With the Florida request now granted, focus shifts to ongoing cases in New York, where the department must respond by Monday to submissions from victims, Epsteins estate, and Maxwells legal team.

This ruling represents the first successful release of Epstein-related grand jury documents under the new legislation. Two additional requests are still pending in New York courts concerning transcripts from Epsteins 2019 sex trafficking case and Maxwells 2021 prosecution.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, championed by Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie and passed by Congress in November, requires the Justice Department to release all unclassified investigative materials related to Epstein within 30 days of the laws enactment, establishing a December 19 deadline. The House approved the measure 427-1, with only Congressman Clay Higgins voting against it, and the Senate passed it by unanimous consent. Initially, Trump opposed the law but later endorsed it after Khanna and Massies petition secured enough signatures to force a vote, compelling lawmakers to publicly take a stance on the issue.

The act mandates the release of Justice Department records regarding Epstein and Maxwell, including documents about other individuals, immunity agreements, and internal communications on prosecutorial decisions. The law allows withholding of records only if their release could compromise active investigations or expose victims personal information. It explicitly prohibits withholding records solely to avoid embarrassment or reputational damage to public figures, officials, or foreign dignitaries.

Authorities have concluded that Epstein, a financier with connections to prominent global figures, including a former close relationship with Trump, died by suicide in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. He was accused of sexually exploiting minors, some as young as 14, and paying them for sexual acts at his properties in New York and Florida. Maxwell, Epsteins long-time associate, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for assisting in his abuse of underage girls.

Author: Logan Reeves