A federal judge in Florida has denied one of three Justice Department requests to unseal grand jury records related to the original federal investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, according to a court order made public on Wednesday.
The blocked request pertained to records from grand juries convened in West Palm Beach in 2005 and 2007, during the early stages of the federal case against the now-deceased financier and convicted sex offender.
The request was denied by U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg, an Obama appointee, who ruled that the DOJ failed to provide sufficient legal justification for unsealing the normally secret grand jury materials.
“Hands Are Tied,” Judge Claims
Judge Rosenberg cited strict precedent in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which only allows unsealing grand jury records under very narrow conditions. In her ruling, she claimed her “hands were tied” under existing law.
She also rejected a DOJ request to transfer jurisdiction of the matter to New York, where federal judges are already reviewing two other motions to unseal grand jury materials related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
NY Judge Also Denies Maxwell Access to Grand Jury Testimony
The ruling in Florida comes one day after U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer in New York denied Ghislaine Maxwell’s request to access grand jury records in her own case.
“It is black-letter law that defendants generally are not entitled to access to grand jury materials,” Engelmayer wrote, rejecting the defense’s argument that Maxwell needed the records to determine her position on wider disclosure.
The judge said Maxwell failed to demonstrate any “compelling necessity” and had not shown that the records would reveal deficiencies in her indictment. He did note, however, that he would personally review the transcripts and consider providing a summary or excerpt.
House Oversight Subpoenas Maxwell for Congressional Deposition
Meanwhile, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell to testify under oath during a congressional deposition scheduled for August 11.
“The Department of Justice is cooperating and will help facilitate the deposition at the prison,” Comer announced Tuesday.
The move signals increased congressional pressure for transparency in the Epstein investigation, as public frustration grows over delays and secrecy surrounding key evidence.
DOJ: Meeting With Maxwell Is Coming
In a separate development, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that he has reached out to Maxwell’s legal team and plans to meet with her “in the coming days” to discuss what information she may be willing to provide.
Maxwell’s attorney later confirmed discussions with the DOJ were ongoing.
President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly demanded full transparency in the Epstein case, requested the release of grand jury records earlier this month. The DOJ has said it supports public disclosure—pending court approval—but these latest rulings present roadblocks.
