Trump administration's plea for disclosure of Epstein grand jury records turned down by the US judge
In a recent ruling, District Judge Richard Berman has denied the Trump administration's request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the criminal case against the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The decision comes amidst ongoing public interest in the Epstein case and related investigations.
Epstein, a wealthy financier, died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of underage girls. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted in 2021 of recruiting underage girls for Epstein.
The judge's decision is specifically about the grand jury transcripts from Epstein's criminal case, not the Epstein files or materials in general. The judge noted that the government holds a trove of Epstein investigation materials that it promised to release to the public. However, the judge's decision does not concern Ghislaine Maxwell, who is also facing charges.
The judge suggested that the government should make comprehensive disclosure of the Epstein Files, and the bid to unseal the Epstein grand jury transcripts appears to be a "diversion." This sentiment was echoed by the judge's concern that unsealing the grand jury proceedings could pose "possible threats" to the safety and privacy of Epstein's more than 1,000 victims.
Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers had opposed the release of the grand jury transcripts, citing potential impact on her ongoing legal appeals of her conviction. The Justice Department has been seeking the release of the grand jury transcripts to help defuse anger among President Donald Trump's supporters over what they see as a cover-up of Epstein's crimes.
It's important to note that the prosecution against Ghislaine Maxwell in the 2021 trial was carried out by the U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors. Trump's name was found among hundreds during a Justice Department review of the Epstein files, though there has not been evidence of wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, a House of Representatives committee has subpoenaed the Epstein files and is set to receive a first batch of records on Friday from the Justice Department. The committee spokesperson stated that the panel will begin publicly releasing some of the records after victim identification and child sexual abuse material has been redacted.
Recently, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is also Trump's former personal lawyer, met with Ghislaine Maxwell, but details of their conversation remain undisclosed. This meeting has added to the speculation surrounding the Epstein case and related investigations.
As the Epstein case continues to unfold, the public awaits further disclosure of the Epstein Files and the grand jury transcripts, hoping for a clearer understanding of the events that led to Epstein's death and the investigations that followed.
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