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Judge rules Epstein grand jury records from 2019 case can be released

December 10, 2025

A New York federal judge has authorized the Department of Justice to publicly release grand jury materials from Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case, reversing an earlier decision to keep them sealed. The ruling follows the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump in November, which mandates the release of investigative materials by December 19th while allowing protection of victim identities and active investigations. This decision is part of a broader trend, as two other federal judges recently approved similar releases related to Epstein cases, including records from Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction and a separate Florida investigation.

Who is affected

  • Victims of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking, including girls as young as 14
  • Virginia Giuffre (deceased Epstein victim) and her family
  • Ghislaine Maxwell (convicted accomplice serving 20-year sentence)
  • President Donald Trump (former Epstein associate facing public scrutiny)
  • The US Department of Justice
  • Congress members from both parties who pushed for transparency
  • Judge Richard Berman and other federal judges handling the cases

What action is being taken

  • The Department of Justice is releasing grand jury records from Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case
  • The DOJ is releasing investigative materials by December 19th as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act
  • Victim identities and privacy are being protected in the release process
  • The DOJ is withholding files involving active criminal investigations or privacy concerns

Why it matters

  • This release represents a significant step toward transparency and accountability in one of the most high-profile sex trafficking cases in recent history. The public disclosure of these materials allows scrutiny of how the justice system handled Epstein's crimes and may reveal information about his network of associates and enablers. For survivors, the release acknowledges their experiences while the law's privacy protections demonstrate the balance between public interest and victim safety, potentially offering some measure of justice after years of alleged cover-ups and selective information sharing.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC