New York, Jul 30 (AP) The Justice Department is advocating for the release of grand jury transcripts that underpinned the sex trafficking charges against New York financier Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. These transcripts reportedly consist of testimony from only two law enforcement officers.
In a late Tuesday submission to the Manhattan federal court, officials detailed their request following judges' demands for more context earlier this month. All potential unsealing of records will require judicial approval.
Grand jury records are typically kept confidential unless a court proceeding necessitates their release.
The Tuesday filing references a 1997 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision, emphasizing that judges have significant discretion, with public interest serving as a valid reason to disclose grand jury details.
The Epstein grand jury, convened in June and July of 2019, heard only from an FBI agent. In contrast, the Maxwell grand jury consulted both the same FBI agent and a NYPD detective during its sessions in June and July of 2020 and March 2021.
The filing, signed by Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, also bears the names of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
This push to release the transcripts follows backlash from President Donald Trump's supporters, who were frustrated by the Justice Department’s early July decision to withhold further Epstein documents.
Many of Trump's supporters had high expectations for the release, having been fueled by administration narratives and related conspiracies about Epstein, whose connections spanned high-profile individuals, including presidents, royals, and billionaires like Trump.
Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The circumstances of his case have provoked continuous speculation and conspiracy theories due to his and Maxwell’s associations.
Maxwell currently serves a 20-year prison sentence after a December 2021 conviction for sex trafficking, accused of recruiting teenage girls for Epstein’s sexual exploitation.
Recently, she underwent extensive questioning by Justice Department officials in Florida concerning numerous individuals, as indicated by her attorney. This cooperation was part of Trump’s directive to uncover and disseminate credible evidence against others potentially implicated.
Trump has consistently denied any foreknowledge of Epstein's illicit activities and insists he ceased any relationship with him long before. Nonetheless, queries about Epstein still loom over Trump’s tenure. When questioned about potentially pardoning Maxwell, Trump deflected by highlighting his administration’s accomplishments.
According to former Manhattan prosecutors, the grand jury transcripts likely won’t present new revelations, only comprising brief law enforcement testimonies that align with charges already detailed in the indictments.
The Justice Department’s latest filing suggests further tempering of expectations, noting that much of the grand jury's information emerged publicly during Maxwell's trial, with victims’ accounts already consistent with the testimonies presented.
To date, no family members of Epstein or Maxwell have expressed interest in the transcripts’ disclosure, although Maxwell plans to submit her position to the court.
The memorandum posits that this unsealing aligns with growing demands for transparency in this case. It emphasizes the public’s pronounced interest in their crimes and the investigative efforts by the Justice Department and FBI.
Epstein previously avoided a potential life sentence through a 2008 non-prosecution agreement, pleading guilty in Florida to charges with minor penalties, including reduced jail time, payments to victims, and sex offender registration.
He later faced federal charges in Manhattan for nearly identical accusations in 2019. (AP) GRS GRS
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