In brief
A federal judge in New York, Richard Berman, has ruled that the US Department of Justice can publicly release grand jury records from Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case. This decision reverses a prior ruling, prompted by new legislation requiring the release of such files by next week. Epstein was charged in July 2019 but died while awaiting trial a month later. The ruling coincides with a similar decision regarding Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in connection to Epstein's crimes.
A federal judge in New York has ruled the US Department of Justice can publicly release grand jury records from Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case.
US District Judge Richard Berman's ruling reverses his previous decision to keep the material sealed. He cited a new law passed by Congress requiring the justice department to release files about Epstein by the end of next week.
Epstein was charged with sex trafficking in July 2019. He died in a New York prison cell a month later while awaiting trial.
The latest ruling comes a day after another judge made a similar ruling in the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in facilitating Epstein's abuse.
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