New York Judge Orders Unsealing Epstein Grand Jury Records
New York Judge Orders Unsealing Epstein Grand Jury Records
A federal judge in New York reverses course and unseals grand jury records in the Jeffrey Epstein case after a new law expands transparency, while protecting victims’ privacy.
A federal judge in New York has ruled the Department of Justice can publicly release grand jury records from Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 sex-trafficking case. The decision reverses an earlier ruling to keep the materials sealed and comes after a new law requiring disclosure of Epstein-related files was enacted by Congress.
The judge, Judge Richard Berman, noted that while the records will be public, the identities of victims will be shielded to protect their privacy and safety.
Epstein, a financier, was charged in July 2019 with sex trafficking and conspiracy, and died in a New York jail cell about a month later while awaiting trial.
The unsealing could provide one of the broadest public looks yet at the federal investigation surrounding the case and may reveal how investigators pursued leads and built their case.
Advocates welcomed the move as a step toward transparency, while some cautioned about potential harm to victims and cautions for ongoing investigations. The new law, passed by Congress last month, aims to balance the public's right to know with victims' privacy and safety concerns.
Cover image source: Judge Grants Request to Unseal Jeffrey Epstein Grand Jury Records 🔗
