Federal judge orders release of sealed Jeffrey Epstein files under new transparency law

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A federal judge has approved the Justice Department’s request to release sealed files from Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case, including materials from the prosecution of his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Judge Paul Engelmayer ruled Tuesday that the new Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump, requires disclosure of both grand jury proceedings and extensive investigative materials that prosecutors provided to Maxwell’s defense team during her trial.

The decision follows a similar ruling last week by a Florida judge who ordered release of grand jury materials from the initial Epstein investigation two decades ago. That first probe resulted in a controversial plea deal allowing Epstein to avoid federal prosecution by pleading guilty to state charges of soliciting minors for sex, serving just over a year in a work-release program.

Judge Engelmayer tempered expectations about the grand jury materials, stating they likely won’t contain the bombshell revelations many anticipate. According to his order, the documents don’t identify anyone besides Epstein and Maxwell as having sexual contact with minors, don’t name any clients, and don’t reveal previously unknown methods, venues, or sources of wealth related to their crimes.

The Justice Department has committed to redacting victims’ names from the released materials, with Judge Engelmayer requiring the U.S. attorney in Manhattan to personally certify the redactions are properly executed. The judge expressed concern that the Justice Department hasn’t shown adequate consideration for victims’ privacy, noting that prosecutors failed to consult with victims before filing either their July request to unseal files or their November request following passage of the transparency act.

Epstein faced new federal sex trafficking charges in 2019 but died by suicide while awaiting trial. Maxwell was subsequently charged in 2020 with assisting the trafficking operation and was convicted in 2022. Her appeals were rejected by multiple courts, including the Supreme Court last October.

Judge Engelmayer had initially denied the Justice Department’s summer request to unseal grand jury materials, citing secrecy rules and protective orders meant to shield victims and preserve trial integrity. 

However, the Epstein Files Transparency Act specifically mandates release of such documents, with limited exceptions for materials that would constitute a “clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” The law explicitly states that potential embarrassment of public officials is not grounds for withholding documents.

Read more: Judge allows release of secret Jeffrey Epstein docs from Ghislaine Maxwell case