2:55This undated trial evidence image obtained December 8, 2021, from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein.US District Court for the Southern District of New York/AFP via Getty Images
The federal judge currently handling the Justice Department’s petition to unseal grand jury documents related to Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal case stated in a recent order on Tuesday that he intends to make a decision “promptly” on the issue, but he needs additional information beforehand.
"The Court aims to resolve this motion swiftly," District Judge Paul Engelmayer mentioned in a four-page order filed on Tuesday. "However, the Court cannot make a ruling on the motion without further submissions," the order added.
Engelmayer is requesting further briefing from the Justice Department after he noted that their initial motion "does not sufficiently address" what the filing describes as a "non-exhaustive list of factors for district courts to consider when evaluating requests for the disclosure" of such confidential grand jury information.
Engelmayer has given the government until July 29 to submit a brief that further explains their rationale for requesting the release of the documents, which he indicated should cover whether they have previously examined grand jury transcripts from Maxwell’s case and whether they notified victims prior to their motion to unseal the records.
This undated trial evidence image obtained December 8, 2021, from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein.US District Court for the Southern District of New York/AFP via Getty Images
The order also instructs the government to file under seal an index of the Maxwell grand jury transcript materials, the transcripts themselves, and a proposed redacted version of the transcripts, along with other relevant items.
On Tuesday, attorneys for Maxwell requested the judge to permit them to review any grand jury testimony before deciding whether to make it public.
According to a letter from Maxwell’s attorneys, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche does not object to allowing them to review the grand jury transcripts.
“As counsel for Ms. Maxwell, we would likewise like to examine the grand jury transcripts at issue (we have not seen them, and our understanding is that they have never been provided to the defense in their entirety) to formulate a response and present our position to the Court,” her attorney David Oscar Markus stated.
This unusual legal situation arises as lawyers for the Department of Justice seek to unseal sensitive grand jury transcripts connected to Epstein and engage with Maxwell. An objection from Maxwell regarding the unsealing of the records could further complicate the process involved in potentially releasing the documents.
In a separate matter, Engelmayer has set a deadline of August 5 for the victims in the case to express their views concerning the disclosure of the grand jury transcripts.
Last week, President Donald Trump announced that he had instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue the release of additional Epstein materials following pressure from conservatives and others for increased transparency in the case.
Bondi stated on Monday that Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell in the “coming days.”
"President Trump has directed us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislaine Maxwell possesses information about anyone who has perpetrated crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will listen to what she has to offer," Blanche remarked in a statement issued by Bondi on X.
Democrats have voiced criticism regarding any arrangements with Maxwell.
"DAG Blanche is now circumventing the SDNY and its institutional policies by functioning as a political agent of President Trump to delay the release of the complete Epstein files by quietly suggesting a pardon for Maxwell in exchange for information that politically benefits President Trump," Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., stated.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
