WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice has asked a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the criminal investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, saying greater public transparency is warranted while acknowledging that the release of any sealed material remains subject to judicial approval.
The filing, submitted in federal court, requests the disclosure of transcripts associated with the grand jury that returned the indictment against Epstein. The Justice Department said the request was made at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi and followed sustained public interest in the government's handling of records connected to the late financier's sex-trafficking case.
Federal prosecutors said the department and the FBI had previously conducted what they described as an exhaustive review of investigative materials related to Epstein. According to the filing, officials concluded that the review uncovered no evidence sufficient to support investigations of additional uncharged third parties. The department said releasing the transcripts, subject to legal restrictions, could help explain the basis for those conclusions.
Grand jury proceedings are ordinarily kept secret under federal law to protect the integrity of investigations, encourage witness cooperation and safeguard the privacy of individuals who are not charged. Any release of the records would require approval from the court, which must weigh those interests against arguments favoring disclosure.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls. He died later that year in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial. The New York City medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. His longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 on federal sex-trafficking-related charges and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The department's latest court action comes amid broader scrutiny of its handling of Epstein-related records. Earlier this month, Justice Department officials said they were legally unable to provide unredacted investigative files sought by New Mexico authorities because of court orders, federal secrecy rules and privacy protections for victims and witnesses.
The court had not ruled on the Justice Department's motion as of Saturday. Any decision on whether to release the transcripts, and in what form, will rest with the federal judge overseeing the matter.
