DOJO – The U.S. Department of Justice has renewed its push to release Jeffrey Epstein grand jury materials, citing a new federal mandate that requires the files to be made public within 30 days. The move comes after President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, triggering a fresh legal deadline. The DOJ said Congress made its intent clear and that the law now overrides the usual secrecy protections.
Why the DOJ Is Seeking the Epstein Grand Jury Release
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton submitted the government’s request in Manhattan federal court, asking for an expedited ruling that would allow the department to begin disclosures. The filing argues that the new law provides a direct path for unsealing materials tied to the Epstein case.
Judge Richard Berman previously rejected similar attempts. He ruled that grand jury transcripts offered little compared to the government’s massive archive of Epstein investigative files. Those records include more than 100,000 pages, far outweighing roughly 70 pages of grand jury materials. Berman described the transcripts as “a hearsay snippet” delivered by an FBI agent with no firsthand knowledge of Epstein’s conduct.
What Judges Have Said So Far
Two additional judges also refused earlier requests to unseal Epstein grand jury information. The agent who testified before the panel did so on June 18 and July 2, 2019. That testimony was accompanied by a slideshow and call logs before jurors voted to indict Epstein.
He was arrested shortly after, on July 6, 2019, and was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell a month later in what authorities ruled a suicide.
New Deadlines and the Maxwell Connection
The DOJ’s renewed motion also covers grand jury exhibits tied to Ghislaine Maxwell’s prosecution, though redactions will be applied to protect victims and any active investigations.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer has ordered victims to weigh in by December 3 and demanded that Maxwell declare any objections by the same date. The DOJ must reply to all submissions by December 10. Engelmayer signaled he will issue a mid-December ruling.
The department previously faced criticism for requesting court intervention despite already possessing the full Epstein file trove. Judges noted that the public would gain more insight from the broader investigative materials than from brief grand jury testimony.
