Overview
- U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman on Dec. 10 authorized unsealing of grand jury records from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 New York case, underscoring that victims’ safety and privacy are paramount.
- On Dec. 9, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer approved releasing grand jury transcripts, exhibits and pretrial materials from the Ghislaine Maxwell prosecution, requiring the SDNY U.S. attorney to personally certify redaction compliance.
- A Dec. 5 order by Judge Rodney Smith in Florida cleared transcripts from the mid‑2000s federal probe, giving the Justice Department judicial clearance across the three major Epstein‑Maxwell matters.
- The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires publication of unclassified records by Dec. 19, and the DOJ is preparing redactions and technical releases that could begin within about 10 days.
- Judges cautioned the grand jury materials are unlikely to reveal new clients or additional perpetrators, while Maxwell’s lawyers warn broad disclosure could prejudice any future retrial or habeas bid.