In a significant move aimed at increasing transparency in one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in recent U.S. history, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally requested a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking cases.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed the motion late Friday in Manhattan federal court, citing “intense public interest” in the documents and a growing demand for accountability in the wake of the department’s latest internal review of the Epstein investigation.
The DOJ is seeking the release of transcripts from Epstein’s 2019 grand jury proceedings and Maxwell’s prosecution, while promising that all personally identifying details and the names of victims will be redacted to ensure privacy protections are upheld.
“Transparency for the American public is of the utmost importance to this Administration,” the filing states, reflecting a broader DOJ push, under the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi, to revisit and reexamine how the case was handled.
Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI released a joint memorandum summarizing an extensive review of investigation files related to Epstein and his associates. That report concluded that no prosecutable evidence had been uncovered implicating additional individuals. Still, the findings have done little to silence critics and conspiracy theories surrounding the case.
The Epstein case has long been shrouded in secrecy and suspicion. The financier was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died by suicide just weeks later while in custody. His death, officially ruled a suicide, sparked outrage and allegations of foul play. Many still believe key figures tied to Epstein have escaped accountability.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidante, was later convicted of sex trafficking minors and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Her appeal was rejected last year, though she is currently petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for a review.
Grand jury proceedings are generally sealed by law to protect the integrity of investigations and the privacy of witnesses. However, in this case, the DOJ argues that the public interest outweighs those concerns.
“The Department is committed to a careful, lawful release of these records,” the motion reads. “Transparency in this process will not be at the expense of our obligation under the law to protect victims.”
The court has not yet indicated when it will rule on the DOJ’s motion.
If approved, the release of the transcripts could shed new light on the decisions made during the investigation—and potentially reignite questions about who else knew or participated in Epstein’s criminal enterprise.