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FLORIDA - A federal judge in Florida has blocked a request to release grand jury transcripts from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes, rejecting the Trump administration's appeal to make the records public.
The ruling, issued on Wednesday, pertains to grand jury documents from 2005 and 2007, which were part of an earlier investigation into the financier’s actions.
While the judge's decision puts this matter to rest for now, a similar request is still under review in New York.
U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg, based in West Palm Beach, determined that the release of these documents did not meet the strict legal requirements set forth by federal law, which protects grand jury materials from public disclosure unless exceptional circumstances exist.
The Justice Department had sought to unseal the records to quell conspiracy claims circulating among supporters of former President Donald Trump.
These individuals have raised suspicions about a possible cover-up involving Epstein’s high-profile clients and the suppression of key evidence.
Epstein’s 2008 plea deal with federal prosecutors allowed him to avoid more severe charges, instead pleading guilty to state charges related to prostitution involving minors.
He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges, leading to heightened media attention.
His subsequent death in a New York jail, ruled a suicide, only fueled more conspiracy theories.
Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 for her role in the abuse and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Despite the judge’s ruling, the Epstein case remains a focus of ongoing debate and speculation.