Judge orders release of Florida Epstein grand jury transcripts; NYC cases pending
Judge Rodney Smith ordered the unsealing of grand jury transcripts from the abandoned 2006–2007 Florida Epstein investigation, finding the Epstein Files Transparency Act overrides grand jury secrecy and requires the DOJ, FBI and federal prosecutors to release records by Dec. 19. The DOJ has sought unsealing in three matters—the approved Florida probe and related 2019 (Epstein) and 2021 (Ghislaine Maxwell) SDNY cases—with the New York judges setting a Monday deadline for DOJ’s final filing and saying they will rule expeditiously after victim, estate and defense submissions.
📌 Key Facts
- Judge Rodney Smith ordered the release of grand jury transcripts from the abandoned 2006–2007 Florida Epstein investigation and explicitly held that the Epstein Files Transparency Act overrides grand jury secrecy rules.
- The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the Department of Justice, FBI and federal prosecutors to release the specified records by Dec. 19.
- The DOJ has sought unsealing in three related matters: the 2006–2007 Florida grand jury probe, Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 SDNY case, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 SDNY case.
- The Florida request to unseal the grand jury transcripts was approved on Friday; the two New York unsealing requests (the 2019 and 2021 SDNY matters) remain pending.
- Judges handling the New York matters set a Monday deadline for the DOJ’s final filing and said they will rule expeditiously after reviewing submissions from victims, the estate, and the defense.
📊 Relevant Data
Federal officials identified 36 underage girls, some as young as 14, whom Jeffrey Epstein had allegedly sexually abused during the Florida investigation.
Perversion of Justice: Jeffrey Epstein — Miami Herald
The Palm Beach County grand jury heard testimony from only two victims and returned a single charge of felony solicitation of prostitution against Epstein, despite police identifying evidence of more serious crimes involving multiple minors.
Perversion of Justice: Jeffrey Epstein — Miami Herald
According to FBI data, 57.5% of all juvenile prostitution arrests in the US are of Black children, while Black people make up about 13% of the US population.
Snapshot on the State of Black Women and Girls: Sex Trafficking in the U.S. — Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
In fiscal year 2024, the average sentence for federal sexual abuse offenses was 221 months of imprisonment.
Sexual Abuse Quick Facts — United States Sentencing Commission
In fiscal year 2024, Native American offenders comprised 13% of those sentenced for federal sexual abuse offenses, while Native Americans make up about 1% of the US population.
Sexual Abuse Quick Facts — United States Sentencing Commission
📰 Sources (2)
- 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.