A U.S. judge has rejected a Trump administration request to release transcripts of the Jeffrey Epstein grand jury investigation conducted years ago in Florida.
A parallel request for records is pending in New York.
U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg in West Palm Beach, Florida, said the request to release the 2005 and 2007 grand jury documents did not meet any of the exceptions under U.S. law that allow them to be released.
Last week, the Justice Department asked a judge to open the records to appease supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump who believe there was a conspiracy to protect Epstein's clients and hide videos of the crimes and other evidence.
In 2008, Epstein reached a deal with Florida prosecutors that allowed him to avoid more serious federal charges and instead plead guilty to state charges of enticement of minors into prostitution and solicitation of prostitution.
The wealthy financier was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges.
His ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was charged with assisting him in committing indecent acts against teenage girls.
Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell about a month after his arrest.
Investigative authorities came to the conclusion that he committed suicide.
Maxwell was later found guilty in court and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The case has attracted attention because of Epstein and Maxwell's connections to high-profile figures, including royals, presidents and billionaires.
It has also fueled some of the most vocal conspiracy theories inspiring Mr Trump's base.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
