Judge Rejects Trump Administration’s Request to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Records

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A federal judge in Florida has denied a request from the Trump administration to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein’s earlier criminal investigations. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg, found no legal justification under federal law to disclose the sealed materials.

The Justice Department had sought to unseal transcripts from grand jury proceedings tied to Epstein’s 2005 and 2007 investigations, citing public interest. The documents reportedly involve two law enforcement witnesses: one FBI agent and one New York Police Department detective. However, the court found that Eleventh Circuit precedent bars the unsealing of such material without an exceptional circumstance, which the judge concluded was not present.

This development comes amid renewed scrutiny of how Epstein’s earlier cases were handled and growing demands for transparency. While some information has already been made public during earlier court proceedings, critics and victims’ rights advocates argue that key details remain concealed and should be released.

Meanwhile, similar legal efforts are ongoing in New York, where federal courts are reviewing separate motions to unseal grand jury records related to both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Those decisions are still pending.

The case has intensified political debate in Washington. A House Oversight Subcommittee recently voted to subpoena Justice Department records and summon Maxwell to testify in August. Although the move received bipartisan backing, some lawmakers accuse the administration of withholding critical information, while others support its stated commitment to transparency.

The Trump administration maintains that much of the testimony in question has already been presented in court and says it is acting in good faith to ensure accountability.. Still, Judge Rosenberg’s ruling affirms that transparency alone does not override federal rules safeguarding grand jury secrecy.

As the legal battle continues, the outcome could set a precedent for handling grand jury materials in future high-profile cases involving public figures and possible government misconduct.