Florida judge unseals Epstein grand‑jury records; New York judges now grant parallel unsealing orders
A Florida judge, Rodney Smith, ordered the unsealing of grand‑jury transcripts from the abandoned 2006–07 Jeffrey Epstein probe, finding the Epstein Files Transparency Act overrides grand‑jury secrecy and noting the law requires DOJ, FBI and federal prosecutors to release records by Dec. 19. Following that ruling, SDNY judges — including Richard Berman — have moved to unseal grand‑jury and investigative materials from Epstein’s 2019 federal case and voluminous Maxwell transcripts from 2021, set a near‑term deadline for the DOJ’s filings, and said they will rule quickly while redacting victims’ identities.
📌 Key Facts
- U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith in Florida ruled that the Epstein Files Transparency Act overrides grand‑jury secrecy rules and ordered release of grand‑jury transcripts from the abandoned 2006–2007 Florida probe.
- The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the Department of Justice, FBI and federal prosecutors to release covered records by Dec. 19.
- The DOJ sought unsealing in three related matters: the 2006–2007 Florida grand‑jury probe, Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 SDNY investigation, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 SDNY case.
- Florida’s unsealing request was approved first; the New York matters were initially placed on an expedited schedule with judges setting a Monday deadline for the DOJ’s final filing and saying they would rule quickly after victim, estate and defense submissions.
- Following the Florida order, SDNY Judge Richard Berman ordered unsealing of Epstein grand‑jury and investigative materials from the 2019 probe, and another New York judge ordered unsealing of a 'voluminous' set of Maxwell grand‑jury transcripts and evidence.
- The recent Florida and New York rulings implement the Epstein Files Transparency Act’s mandate ahead of the Dec. 19 deadline, with courts directing that victim identities be redacted in released materials.
📊 Relevant Data
In fiscal year 2021, 53% of the 203 defendants charged with peonage, slavery, forced labor, and sex trafficking were Black, while Black people comprise about 13% of the US population.
Human Trafficking Data Collection Activities, 2024 — Bureau of Justice Statistics
Immigrants, especially immigrant women, make up the largest portion of human trafficking victims in the U.S., while foreign-born individuals comprise approximately 15% of the US population.
How Porous Borders Fuel Human Trafficking in the United States — U.S. Congress
Black females aged 24 and under represent 38% to 80% of domestic minor sex trafficking survivors in studies from primary point-of-contact agencies, while Black people comprise about 13% of the US population.
📰 Sources (3)
- Following the Florida order, SDNY Judge Richard Berman ordered unsealing of Epstein grand‑jury and investigative materials from DOJ’s 2019 probe.
- Another New York judge has ordered unsealing of a 'voluminous' set of Maxwell grand‑jury transcripts and evidence.
- These rulings implement the Epstein Files Transparency Act’s mandate ahead of the Dec. 19 deadline, with victim identities to be redacted.
- Judge Rodney Smith explicitly held that the Epstein Files Transparency Act overrides grand jury secrecy rules.
- The law requires DOJ, FBI and federal prosecutors to release records by Dec. 19.
- DOJ has sought unsealing in three matters: the 2006–2007 Florida grand jury probe, Epstein’s 2019 SDNY case, and Maxwell’s 2021 SDNY case.
- Florida request was approved Friday; the two New York requests remain pending.
- Judges in the New York matters set a Monday deadline for DOJ’s final filing and said they will rule expeditiously after victim, estate, and defense submissions.