Judge urges Trump administration to disclose 100,000 pages of Epstein files rather than pursue jury records.
Judge rejects Trump administration request to unseal Epstein jury records, urges broader release of files
FILE PHOTO: US judge blocks release of Epstein grand jury documents / Reuters
A federal judge in New York has denied a Justice Department bid to unseal grand jury records related to Jeffrey Epstein, instead urging the administration to disclose the far larger trove of documents already in its possession.
US District Judge Richard Berman, who oversaw Epstein’s 2019 sex crimes case, ruled Wednesday that releasing just 70 pages of testimony would be “a diversion” given that the government holds roughly 100,000 pages of material.
“The Government is the logical party to make a comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein files,” Berman wrote, adding that the jury records amount to “merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged conduct.”
The decision marks the third time in recent months that federal judges have blocked the release of Epstein-related jury materials. Similar rulings came in Florida in July and again earlier this month concerning testimony linked to Ghislaine Maxwell.
Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Authorities ruled his death a suicide, a conclusion reaffirmed by the Justice Department in July despite persistent conspiracy theories suggesting foul play.
Critics say the government has failed to be transparent about the scope of Epstein’s crimes and potential involvement of his associates, fueling years of speculation and mistrust.
