A federal judge has rejected the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury materials from the sex-trafficking cases of Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell, ruling that the documents would add little to the public’s understanding of the crimes or the government’s investigation.
In a 31-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer concluded that the materials “do not contain significant, undisclosed information” about Epstein or Maxwell. He highlighted two key findings:
- The grand juries in question “were not used for investigative purposes” and heard testimony only from law enforcement officials—not victims, witnesses, suspects, or custodians of records. Each grand jury met for a single day to return an indictment.
- The evidence presented to the Maxwell grand juries is already “a matter of public record,” with only minor exceptions.
Engelmayer also denied the DOJ’s request to release exhibits shown to grand jurors, which prosecutors said might contain additional names connected to the defendants. The judge noted that the materials “do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor” and do not reveal new details about clients, criminal methods, Epstein’s wealth, the circumstances of his death, or the course of the investigation.
Prosecutors had argued that public interest justified disclosure and sought until August 14 to notify anyone whose name might be revealed. The court rejected the unsealing, maintaining that grand jury exhibits remain confidential without judicial approval.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence after her 2021 conviction for aiding Epstein in the trafficking of underage girls. She is appealing her conviction and has recently signaled a willingness to speak with Congress and the Justice Department.
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 before facing trial; his death was ruled a suicide, a finding disputed by his family.