A federal judge overseeing the Justice Department’s effort to unseal grand jury records from Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal case has requested additional information before issuing a decision. In a four-page order filed Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer said he plans to rule “expeditiously” but noted the DOJ’s motion lacks sufficient detail to meet legal standards for releasing secret grand jury material.
Engelmayer directed the DOJ to submit a supplemental brief by July 29 explaining its justification for public release, whether prosecutors have reviewed the transcripts, and if victims were notified prior to filing. The DOJ must also provide, under seal, an index of all relevant materials, full transcripts, a proposed redacted version for public release, and other related documents.
Maxwell’s defense attorneys requested access to the grand jury transcripts before formally responding. Defense lawyer David Oscar Markus stated that reviewing the transcripts is necessary to offer a meaningful legal position. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly does not oppose allowing the defense access.
The judge set an August 5 deadline for victims to submit their views on making the records public. The case has drawn renewed attention after President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release additional Epstein-related files. The move has prompted political debate, with some Democrats criticizing it as politicization of the justice system. Meanwhile, legal experts note that redacted FBI reports reference prominent figures, but emphasize that allegations alone do not indicate guilt.
