Overview

• U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer denied the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury records in Ghislaine Maxwell’s case.
• He found the government’s claim of significant new insights to be “demonstrably false” and noted most evidence is already public.
• Engelmayer warned that disclosure would erode the confidentiality essential to grand jury proceedings and deter future witnesses.
• Maxwell’s defense team also opposed release, arguing the sealed materials contain hearsay she never had the chance to challenge.
• President Donald Trump directed Pam Bondi to seek the files’ release; a separate judge is still weighing unsealing Epstein-era transcripts as congressional subpoenas and DOJ interviews continue.