Unveiling the Mystery: Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts to Be Public

A judge has ruled to unseal secret grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case, following the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This decision is part of a larger effort to release materials from investigations into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell's sexual abuse cases.

In a pivotal decision on Wednesday, a judge ruled that secret grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case can be made public. This ruling aligns with two other judicial decisions, collectively responding to the Justice Department's requests to unseal investigative materials related to the late financier's sexual abuse.

US District Judge Richard M. Berman, who initially sought to keep the materials sealed, cited a newly enacted law mandating government transparency regarding Epstein and his known associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Despite opening the files, Berman noted that the 70 pages of grand jury documents may not offer groundbreaking revelations.

The decision is part of a broader trend towards transparency, as seen in a Manhattan federal judge's order to release records from Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking case and a Florida judge's approval to unseal transcripts from a discontinued Epstein grand jury inquiry from the 2000s. These actions follow the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislated by Congress and ratified by President Donald Trump, providing a specific legal pathway to lift grand jury secrecy.

(With inputs from agencies.)