Judge Orders Epstein Grand Jury Documents Released, Citing Trump-Signed Transparency Law

A federal judge in Florida has ordered the release of long-secret grand jury documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, marking a major shift in the high-profile investigation into the late financier’s criminal network. The order follows a formal request from the Department of Justice and comes after President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law last month.

Judge Cites New Law Over Secrecy Rules

U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith approved the DOJ’s motion on Friday, overriding longstanding rules that typically protect grand jury secrecy. Smith ruled that the newly passed legislation—signed by Trump and requiring the unsealing of federal records related to Epstein—takes precedence.

The Epstein grand jury materials in question stem from investigations conducted in West Palm Beach between 2005 and 2007, a time when Epstein was first accused of sexual exploitation and abuse involving minors. Until now, those documents had remained sealed under Rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which bars disclosure of grand jury materials in most circumstances.

Smith’s ruling followed an earlier decision in July by Judge Robin L. Rosenberg, who said her court was legally powerless to unseal the records under current law. That legal obstacle was cleared when Congress passed—and President Trump signed—the transparency bill mandating release within 30 days.

What the Documents Might Reveal

The grand jury materials are expected to shed light on:

• Why Epstein received a controversial non-prosecution agreement in 2008.

• Who was involved in negotiating or approving that deal.

• Which political or business elites may have had knowledge of his crimes or connections to his network.

The DOJ initially resisted releasing the files earlier in Trump’s second term, citing lack of legal authority and concerns over precedent. But growing bipartisan calls for transparency—combined with fresh revelations from Epstein’s estate records—led to a political pivot.

Trump’s Role and Response

President Trump had previously dismissed the controversy around the Epstein documents as “a hoax” and “media distraction,” but reversed course in July after sustained public pressure and mounting speculation about potential political coverups.

While Trump’s name has appeared in previously released Epstein documents, he has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and none of Epstein’s victims have linked him to abuse.

Still, the president has since directed the DOJ to investigate Epstein’s connections to high-profile Democrats, including Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. The DOJ confirmed last month that it is now reviewing Epstein-related communications tied to Clinton-era officials.

No Date Set for Full Release

Judge Smith did not specify when exactly the grand jury materials will be made public, but under the law signed by Trump, the Justice Department has 30 days from the bill’s signing to comply.

The ruling is a major development in the Epstein saga, with both parties in Washington now signaling a rare moment of agreement: that sunlight may be the only way to resolve the lingering questions about who knew what, and when.