A federal judge in Florida has authorized the U.S. Justice Department to release grand jury transcripts from its sex-trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein, opening the door to documents that could illuminate the late financier’s connections to influential figures, including President Donald Trump.
Judge Rodney Smith granted the request on Friday after the Justice Department sought permission to unseal the material. The move follows a new law, passed by the Republican-controlled Congress and signed by Trump on November 19, directing the Attorney General to make public all unclassified files tied to investigations of Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking.
The decision marks a significant step in one of the most politically charged criminal cases of the last decade. It also arrives amid intense public pressure. Supporters and critics of Trump alike have demanded greater transparency surrounding Epstein’s activities, his network of contacts and the circumstances of his 2019 death in a Manhattan jail, officially ruled a suicide.
Trump had originally opposed releasing the files. He reversed course shortly before the congressional vote, saying he supported the bill.
The shift reflects the complicated politics of the scandal. Many of his voters have long claimed that previous administrations concealed Epstein’s ties to powerful individuals, including those within Trump’s own orbit. Others suspect that a broader cover-up shielded influential figures across both parties.
The controversy has trailed Trump throughout his third presidential campaign. He once fueled speculation about Epstein’s death to energize supporters but has recently dismissed discussions about the records as a partisan attempt to distract from his time in office.
The Justice Department has not yet set a release date for the transcripts. The files are expected to draw intense scrutiny once unsealed, with lawmakers, journalists and advocacy groups preparing to comb through the material for details that remained hidden for years.