• A federal judge in New York has denied the Justice Department's attempt to unseal grand jury records related to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Judge Richard Berman stated that the grand jury materials are less significant when compared to the extensive investigation material already held by the government.
• The ruling follows similar decisions regarding grand jury transcripts in the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate.
• The judge criticized the government for seeking to unseal limited records instead of releasing over 100,000 pages of existing Epstein investigation materials.
• The decision came amid public skepticism and conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's death and the handling of his case by the Justice Department.

A U.S. District Judge Richard Berman denied the Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury records from the sex trafficking case against the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Berman's ruling came on August 20, 2025, and emphasized that the grand jury materials significantly pale in comparison to the extensive documents already held by the government, which includes approximately 100,000 pages related to the Epstein investigation, according to Reuters and CBS News.

Berman pointed out that the grand jury material primarily consists of hearsay testimony from an FBI agent, who did not provide direct knowledge of the facts surrounding Epstein's case, implying limited value in unsealing those records. The judge insisted that the Justice Department is the "logical party" for comprehensive disclosure of Epstein-related files, criticizing their bid to unseal a mere 70 pages as a "diversion" away from broader transparency obligations, according to HuffPost and Los Angeles Times.

The request to release Epstein's grand jury materials is part of an ongoing backlash against the Department of Justice's refusal to disclose additional investigative documents. Many supporters of former President Donald Trump have criticized the administration for not adequately addressing public curiosity regarding Epstein’s ties to prominent figures, and for the uncertainty surrounding Epstein's 2019 death in custody, determined to be a suicide, according to Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

This recent ruling mirrors earlier decisions involving similar grand jury secrecy in the case against Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's criminal enterprise. Judges have been consistent in maintaining that the release of grand jury information does not serve the public interest as it poses risks to victims’ privacy and safety, as Berman reiterated in his decisions, according to Newsweek and India Times.