2:55This image, supplied by the New York State Sex Offender Registry, displays Jeffrey Epstein as of March 28, 2017.New York State Sex Offender Registry
A federal judge in Florida has rejected one of three requests from the Justice Department to unseal grand jury documents related to federal inquiries into Epstein, as indicated by a public order released on Wednesday.
This request is one of three put forth by the Justice Department to judges in New York and Florida, aiming to unseal documents from federal investigations concerning Epstein.
This image, provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry, shows Jeffrey Epstein from March 28, 2017.New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP
As per the order issued by District Judge Robin Rosenberg, the records that the department sought to make public were associated with grand juries convened in West Palm Beach during 2005 and 2007 that investigated Epstein.
Judge Rosenberg criticized the Justice Department for not providing adequate arguments to warrant the unsealing of the documents, which are typically safeguarded under strict confidentiality regulations.
Rosenberg’s ruling expresses that her “hands are tied” due to existing precedents in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which only allows the disclosure of such grand jury materials under limited exceptions.
She also dismissed a request to shift the matter to the Southern District of New York, where two judges are reviewing similar motions from the department aimed at unsealing grand jury records linked to Epstein and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
A spokesperson from the Justice Department did not respond immediately to a request for comment regarding the order.
In the meantime, a federal judge in New York has also denied Ghislaine Maxwell’s request to examine grand jury testimony pertaining to Epstein.
"It is well-established law that defendants generally do not have the right to access grand jury materials," U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer stated.
Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House, June 27, 2025, in Washington.Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images, Files
Maxwell’s attorneys sought access to the sensitive grand jury documents to assess whether Maxwell would express a stance on the release of the records.
Judge Engelmayer indicated that there is no “compelling necessity” for Maxwell to review the documents. An objection from Maxwell regarding the unsealing of the records could complicate the process of potentially releasing them.
"She has not demonstrated, nor attempted to demonstrate, that the grand jury materials in her situation are likely to expose any shortcomings in the proceedings that led to her indictment," he remarked.
Judge Engelmayer noted that he intends to "expeditiously" review the transcripts himself and would contemplate providing a summary or excerpt to Maxwell’s legal team.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
