US judge approves bid to unseal Epstein grand jury documents

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Brian OsgoodDecember 9, 2025 at 07:42 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

A US federal judge approved the Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury documents from Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking case in December 2025. Judge Paul Engelmayer cautioned that the files contain little new information regarding Epstein's or Maxwell's crimes, clients, or methods. The release is enabled by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress in November 2025, which creates an exemption to grand jury secrecy. The law was signed by President Donald Trump, who initially opposed the act but later supported it, stating there was "nothing to hide." Grand jury materials typically include court transcripts and are usually sealed to protect witness testimony and ensure fair justice.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States ×240% Donald Trump 50% Jeffrey Epstein ×360% Ghislaine Maxwell ×470% Paul Engelmayer 80%

Keywords

epstein 100% grand jury documents 90% ghislaine maxwell 80% sex trafficking 70% department of justice 60% unseal 60% epstein files transparency act 50% transparency 50% court documents 40%