Justice Department Pushes to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Files Under New Transparency Law
The United States Justice Department has reignited its efforts to make public the highly anticipated grand jury transcripts linked to the sex-trafficking cases of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein and his infamous associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. This renewed legal push, initiated on Monday, is grounded in a significant new legislative development: the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Signed into law by President Donald Trump after swift passage through Congress, this act now legally compels the government to open its previously sealed files concerning the high-profile duo.
New Law Overrides Previous Rulings
In comprehensive court filings presented to Manhattan federal Judges Richard Berman and Paul A Engelmayer, US Attorney Jay Clayton explicitly cited the newly enacted Transparency Act. The Justice Department's interpretation is unequivocal: the law mandates the publication of "the grand jury and discovery materials in this case." These eight-page filings, also bearing the names of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, signal a concerted effort from the department to adhere to the fresh legal mandate.
This legal maneuver serves as one of the first public indications that the Justice Department is actively moving to comply with the Transparency Act. The legislation sets a tight deadline, requiring all Epstein-related documents to be made publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format within 30 days of President Trump's signature. This means the critical materials must be released no later than December 19.
Expedited Release Sought for Police Testimony
The Justice Department has formally requested that Judges Berman and Engelmayer issue expedited rulings to facilitate the swift release of these grand jury materials. The core argument is that the new Transparency Act holds legal supremacy, effectively superseding any existing court orders or established judicial policies that might otherwise prevent their public disclosure. It's important to clarify that while these materials are expected to include testimony from police witnesses, they are not anticipated to contain statements from any victims of the alleged crimes.
