A federal judge has denied a request from the Trump administration to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. District Judge Richard Berman ruled that the Justice Department did not provide sufficient justification to release the materials, which are part of an ongoing investigation.

In his decision, Judge Berman emphasized that the information contained in the grand jury materials is minimal compared to the extensive files already held by the Justice Department. He stated, "The information contained in the Epstein grand jury transcripts pales in comparison to the Epstein investigation information and materials in the hand of the Department of Justice."

This ruling marks the third time a federal judge has declined to release Epstein-related grand jury materials. The decision comes amid increasing pressure on the Trump administration to disclose more information about Epstein's case, especially after officials had previously indicated they would do so. Judge Berman noted that the government should be the one to provide comprehensive disclosures regarding the Epstein files, suggesting that the current motion to unseal grand jury materials was a diversion from the broader scope of information available.

Berman also cited concerns for the safety and privacy of victims as a significant reason for keeping the records sealed. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi had shared binders of information with right-wing social media influencers at the White House, but many reported that the binders did not contain any new revelations about Epstein.

The Justice Department's commitment to transparency has been questioned, particularly after it began to retract promises to release more information in May. Bondi informed Trump that his name appeared in the Epstein files, and on July 7, the DOJ issued an unsigned memo stating that no further documents would be released regarding the case. This lack of clarity has drawn criticism from Democrats, the public, and even some members of Trump's political base.

The Justice Department has sought to unseal grand jury materials in both Epstein's case and that of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former associate who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in the abuse of underage girls. On August 11, Judge Paul Engelmayer denied the DOJ's request for grand jury materials in Maxwell's case, stating that the department's arguments were unfounded and that the request did not serve the public interest.

Additionally, a federal court in Florida also denied a request from the Justice Department to unseal grand jury materials. Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted a two-day interview with Maxwell in late July, and the DOJ is currently working on transcribing a 10-hour audio recording from that interview.