The Department of Justice (DOJ) is advocating for the unsealing of long-concealed grand jury transcripts related to the Jeffrey Epstein case this Friday, citing an “intense public interest” in the notorious sex trafficking investigation, as instructed by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche submitted the motion in Manhattan federal court, urging a judge to disclose transcripts from Epstein’s 2019 grand jury sessions and the prosecution of Epstein’s convicted associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, as part of the department’s renewed commitment to transparency.

Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI published a memorandum detailing an “exhaustive review” of their investigation files concerning Epstein. This internal evaluation sought to determine if any evidence could justify prosecuting additional individuals but concluded that “no such evidence was uncovered” against any uncharged third parties.

Since the release of the memo on July 6, authorities believe that public interest in its contents has remained significant.

While the department continues to endorse the findings of the memo, the filing emphasizes that “transparency for the American public is of the utmost importance to this Administration.” In light of the considerable public interest, the DOJ has notified the court of its intention to unseal the underlying grand jury transcripts to provide clarity regarding its investigation into the Epstein case.

The DOJ has indicated that it will work with prosecutors to redact all victim names and personal identifying information from the transcripts prior to their release.

“Transparency in this process will not compromise our legal obligation to protect victims,” the motion assured.

On July 2, 2019, a New York grand jury indicted Epstein, 66, on charges of sex trafficking. On August 10, 2019, just over a month later, he took his own life in his detention cell while awaiting trial, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s long-time confidante, was indicted by a grand jury in 2020 on multiple counts of trafficking and coercing minors.

In December 2021, a grand jury found her guilty and sentenced her to 20 years in prison. Maxwell’s convictions were upheld on appeal in 2024, and she has requested the United States Supreme Court to review her case.

Grand jury proceedings are typically kept confidential by law, or as stated in the motion, “a tradition of law that proceedings before a grand jury shall generally remain secret.” However, the filing recognizes that this practice “is not absolute.”

Federal courts have acknowledged “certain ‘special circumstances’” under which the publication of grand jury documents is allowed despite the usual restrictions, particularly when a case holds significant public or historical importance.

The DOJ asserts that Epstein’s case is especially distinctive due to its unparalleled notoriety.

“Public officials, lawmakers, pundits, and ordinary citizens continue to be profoundly interested and concerned about the Epstein matter,” the motion observes.

The motion highlights that a Florida judge last year mandated the release of certain Epstein grand jury records after determining that the financier was “the most infamous pedophile in American history” and that the details of Epstein’s case “narrate a story of national disgrace.”

According to the DOJ, the sealed grand jury transcripts are “critical pieces of an important moment in our nation’s history,” and “the time for the public to speculate about their contents should come to an end.”

The suit stresses that Epstein’s death means that any privacy interests on his behalf are now “substantially diminished.”

Despite Maxwell still contesting her conviction, prosecutors contended that the significant public scrutiny surrounding the Epstein case justified moving forward with the unsealing at this time.

For these reasons, the DOJ is requesting the court to determine that the Epstein and Maxwell cases are matters of public interest and to authorize the unsealing of the grand jury transcripts while lifting all protective orders.

The unsealing would provide unparalleled insight into one of America’s most famous criminal cases, a step that the department asserts is legally valid and necessary for the sake of public transparency.