US judge approves release of Epstein grand jury transcripts by Justice Department

A federal judge in Florida has approved the Justice Departments request to make public the grand jury transcripts from its investigation into Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking activities. The disclosure could reveal connections between Epstein and influential figures, including former President Donald Trump.

The Justice Department petitioned U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith to unseal the documents following legislation passed by Congress, which mandates the Attorney General to release all unclassified records related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking offenses.

Initially, Trump, who claimed to have ended his association with Epstein prior to the financiers 2019 arrest, opposed the release of the documents. However, he changed his position shortly before Congress voted on the bill, signing it into law on November 19.

The transcripts are being closely watched by both critics and supporters of Trump, as many demand transparency regarding Epsteins connections to powerful individuals and the circumstances surrounding his 2019 death in a Manhattan jail, which was officially ruled a suicide while he faced federal sex trafficking charges.

The controversy has persisted for months, fueled in part by Trumps earlier promotion of conspiracy theories about Epstein during his 2024 reelection campaign. Recently, Trump has framed the release of the files as a political maneuver by Democrats designed to undermine his administrations record.

Author: Ethan Caldwell