• A federal judge has ordered the release of grand jury transcripts in Jeffrey Epstein's case.
• The decision follows the enactment of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
• Transcripts could illuminate Epstein's connections with powerful figures, including Donald Trump.
• The Justice Department's request to unseal documents was previously denied.
• Documents are expected to be released by December 19, 2025.

A federal judge in Florida, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith, has ordered the release of grand jury transcripts pertaining to the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. This ruling came in response to the Justice Department's request, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the public disclosure of such records. This act effectively overrides previous federal rules that generally protect grand jury materials from being made public, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

ABC News and Reuters.

The release follows previous requests from the Justice Department that had been denied. The law mandating their release was signed by Trump shortly after he faced mounting pressure from lawmakers, including members of his own party, to ensure transparency regarding Epstein's connections and potential cover-ups, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

Epstein's ties to influential figures have made this case particularly sensitive, stirring political controversy. Following his death in 2019, allegations of a cover-up regarding his connections to powerful elites have persisted, particularly among Trump's supporters, as noted by SFGate and South China Morning Post.