A US judge has denied a request by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to unseal transcripts from a grand jury that indicted Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend and associate of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Judge Paul A Engelmayer said lawyers for the government failed to convince the court that extraordinary circumstances warranted the release of the grand jury testimony, which is typically delivered privately and sealed.
“The government’s entire premise – that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein’s and Maxwell’s crimes, or the Government’s investigation into them – is demonstrably false,” Engelmayer wrote in his decision. The DOJ had hoped to get files released about Epstein’s associate to quell furore that had grown over the case, particularly among President Donald Trump’s base, which holds several conspiracy theories about the well-connected sex trafficker.
The DOJ initially announced it would not release any additional documents from the investigation into Epstein, sparking an uproar. In an effort to quell the backlash, the DOJ, at Trump’s order, sought to unseal transcripts both from Maxwell’s grand jury and Epstein’s. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her crimes. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges.
This decision comes amid a backdrop of controversy surrounding Epstein’s case, with several related developments unfolding in the US. A US House panel has subpoenaed Epstein files from the Trump administration and the Clintons, while lawmakers seek Epstein case files, and some criticize Democrats for alleged inaction during the previous administration.
The case continues to draw significant public attention, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability. The judge’s decision highlights the complexities and challenges involved in balancing the need for transparency with the privacy and secrecy requirements of grand jury proceedings.