Overview
- U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith granted the government’s expedited request to unseal the Epstein grand jury transcripts, finding the new statute supersedes Rule 6 secrecy.
- Congress passed, and President Donald Trump signed, the law on November 19 requiring disclosure of non-classified files related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
- The court’s order leaves redaction responsibilities to the Department of Justice to protect victims and other privacy-protected information.
- Two judges in New York are expected to issue related rulings next week that could shape what ultimately becomes public.
- At least two men have asked to keep their names concealed in any releases, even as the documents are reported to potentially shed light on Epstein’s ties to prominent figures.