The release of secret Epstein files just got a lot closer
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Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend a charity concert at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on March 15, 2005. Photo: Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that secret grand jury records from the 2019 prosecution of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein must be made public.
Why it matters: Multiple judges' rulings signal Americans will soon get their closest look yet at the information prosecutors compiled about the alleged sex trafficking operation run by Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell.
- The three rulings from the last week come after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which ordered the Justice Department to release of all files related to its investigation. President Trump signed the law in November despite initial opposition.
Driving the news: U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman ruled Wednesday that victims' privacy must be shielded in the files' release.
- Berman also said he was granting the government's motion ""in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and with the unequivocal right of Epstein victims to have their identity and privacy protected."
Yes, but: Berman previously cautioned that the grand jury transcripts are unlikely to add much to public knowledge on Epstein, though they might offer insight to his criminal behavior.
Court rulings on Epstein files
The big picture: Berman's order joins other court decisions to release the Epstein files, specifically grand jury transcripts.
- On Tuesday, a Manhattan judge ordered the release of records from Maxwell's 2021 sex trafficking case.
- A Florida judge ruled Dec. 5 that transcripts from Epstein's federal probe will be unsealed, too.
- Those rulings would not only unseal grand jury transcripts, but other investigative materials uncovered by defense lawyers during the discovery process, per The New York Times.
Trump, DOJ push for Epstein files
The intrigue: The government, which is generally prohibited from releasing grand jury transcripts to protect victims, has attempted to get the records released multiple times.
- Judges previously ruled the government "failed to show that disclosure was appropriate under any of the exceptions" outlined under federal law, per last Friday's ruling.
- But the government came back with new requests for unsealing to include information covered by court orders.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi also sought an expedited ruling due to the new law, which requires the DOJ to release "'all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" related to the Epstein and Maxwell probe.
- Trump has the power to release additional Epstein files whenever he wants since he oversees the Department of Justice.
When to expect Epstein files
However, the DOJ's Epstein files probably won't be released anytime soon because Congress' new law allows the DOJ to withhold the release due to "active investigations" and "national security."
- This gave Trump officials broad cover to delay or heavily redact documents — especially after Trump launched an investigation into Epstein's ties to former President Bill Clinton, officials at JPMorgan Chase and others.
What's next: The government has until Dec. 19 to release the Epstein files to the public, per Congress' new law and Berman's court ruling.
- However, there is no indication yet of when the public might see those files.
More from Axios:
Here are all the "Epstein files" that have been released — and which haven't
What are the Epstein files? All you need to know
What we know about Trump's relationship with Epstein
