A federal judge has authorized the public disclosure of grand jury investigation records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The transcripts from the investigations conducted in 2005 and 2007 will be made available as per the Department of Justice’s request following recent congressional approval.
The new legislation, referred to as the Epstein Files Transparency Act and signed into law by President Donald Trump, mandates the release of unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials pertaining to Epstein. District Judge Rodney Smith emphasized that the federal law now supersedes the previous prohibition on disclosing grand jury proceedings.
President Trump initially resisted the release of the Epstein files, labeling it a “Democrat hoax.” However, following the bill’s passage with strong bipartisan support, he acquiesced to the mandate for transparency. Notably, the released files exclude information presented to grand juries considering potential charges against Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Epstein, who was found deceased in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for allegations of sexually exploiting minors, has since been linked to various prominent individuals through documents from his estate. These documents, made public by a House Oversight Committee investigation, reveal connections between Epstein and influential figures in politics, finance, and global leadership, including President Trump.
While being mentioned in the released files does not imply criminal involvement, Trump has maintained that he distanced himself from Epstein years ago and denied any misconduct related to their past interactions. Despite his previous reluctance, Trump has now complied with the directive for transparency regarding the Epstein case.