Judge mandates disclosure of transcripts in Epstein Florida case

On Friday, a federal judge ordered that the grand jury transcripts from the Florida investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein be made public. The Justice Department had requested this unsealing following the signing of a new law by President Donald Trump last month, which mandates that all government records concerning Epstein be released to the public.

Grand jury proceedings are typically confidential, and earlier attempts by the Justice Department to make the Florida case transcripts public were denied. However, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith ruled on Friday that the Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the disclosure of these documents.

Epstein had pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to a state charge of soliciting a minor for prostitution. In 2019, he was arrested in New York on charges of sex trafficking involving minors. He died in pre-trial detention, and his death was officially ruled a suicide.

The Justice Department is also pursuing the release of grand jury transcripts from the New York case as well as those related to Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein.

President Trump, who previously had a close relationship with Epstein, resisted the release of these files for months. On November 19, facing congressional pressure including from members of his own party, he signed legislation requiring that the materials be made public. The Epstein Files Transparency Act specifies that all unclassified records, communications, and investigative documents held by the Justice Department, FBI, and U.S. attorneys offices concerning Epstein and Maxwell must be released within 30 days.

Over the years, Trump and his supporters promoted theories suggesting that prominent Democrats were shielded from scrutiny in connection with Epstein, highlighting broader concerns about wealth and influence allowing powerful individuals to avoid accountability.

In July, the FBI and Justice Department stirred controversy by releasing a memo stating that after a comprehensive review of the Epstein files, no evidence was found that would justify further investigation.

Author: Chloe Ramirez