In Miami, Florida, a significant decision came from the federal courts on Friday, as a judge ordered that the grand jury transcripts related to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein be made public.
This move follows a request from the Justice Department, stemming from a recent law signed by former President Donald Trump, mandating the release of all government files regarding Epstein.
Typically, grand jury discussions remain confidential, and just a month prior, a previous attempt to unseal these very transcripts had been denied.
However, US District Judge Rodney Smith announced that the Epstein Files Transparency Act requires these documents to be accessible.
In a 2008 case, Epstein had admitted guilt in Florida on a charge of soliciting underage girls for prostitution. Years later, he faced new accusations in New York in 2019 concerning the trafficking of minors, eventually dying in custody, a death ruled a suicide.
The Justice Department is now pushing for the disclosure of more transcripts, including those from the case linked to Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in recruiting minors for Epstein.
Interestingly, Trump, who once had close ties to Epstein, took significant time battling against the file releases held by the Justice Department. Despite his opposition, he folded under congressional pressure and agreed to the new law on November 19.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act stipulates that all unclassified documents and other relevant materials should be shared within 30 days, affecting the Justice Department, FBI, and U.S. attorneys’ offices.
Trump had also supported various theories about powerful politicians being shielded by Epstein’s connections, suggesting that the case illustrated how affluent individuals might exploit their wealth to evade accountability.
The release of a memo from the FBI and Justice Department in July fueled ongoing political debates, conveying that an “exhaustive review” of Epstein’s files revealed no new evidence justifying further probes.
