A Florida judge on Wednesday rejected a request from the Department of Justice to release grand jury documents related to the criminal investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.
U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg denied the request, saying her “hands are tied.”
In its petition, the DOJ cites the “public’s strong interest” as one reason for unsealing the grand jury transcripts from West Palm Beach in 2005 and 2007. But in the order, Rosenberg writes that the government’s request to “unseal the grand jury transcripts is not based on any of the exceptions.”
Rosenberg also rejected the DOJ’s request to have the case transferred to the Southern District of New York. The judge also ordered that a new case should be opened “as a matter of public interest” and should include the DOJ’s petition and her denial.
This is one one of three requests from the DOJ regarding the release of records related to Epstein. Additional requests are still pending in New York.
In a separate court, a judge denied a request from convicted Epstein associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, to view grand jury transcripts on Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmaye said there is “no compelling necessity” for Maxwell to access the materials.
With pressure pouring in from President Donald Trump’s supporters, the DOJ petitioned the court to unseal the files last week at Trump’s request. The DOJ previously issued a memo saying there was no evidence of a “client list” and that Epstein was not murdered in his jail cell earlier this month.
The memo drew backlash from Trump supporters and has stirred speculation about the president’s alleged relationship with Epstein. The Trump administration is facing pressure from Democrats and Republicans alike on the Epstein issue. To sidestep the issue, Trump and his administration are attempting to deflect.
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