Judge Rejects Trump DOJ Bid to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Transcript, Calls It a ‘Diversion’
A federal judge has rejected an effort by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice to unseal grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein, describing the request as a “diversion” from broader records in the government’s possession.
Judge Richard Berman, a Clinton appointee, issued a 14-page ruling on Wednesday denying the DOJ’s petition, which had been filed in July 2025 at the direction of President Donald Trump. The judge wrote that the transcript in question was “merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged conduct,” adding that the government itself should be responsible for making a more comprehensive disclosure of records tied to the Epstein case.
“The Government is the logical party to make comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein files,” Berman noted. “By comparison, the instant grand jury motion appears to be a ‘diversion’ from the breadth and scope of the Epstein files in the Government’s possession.”
The ruling follows two earlier rejections of attempts to unseal similar transcripts in both Epstein’s Florida proceedings and the Ghislaine Maxwell case.
Attorneys representing several Epstein victims raised objections to the DOJ’s approach, questioning whether proper notice and safeguards were provided. In an August 5 letter to Judge Berman, victims’ lawyers wrote that their clients felt “deep anxiety” about the adequacy of redactions. The attorneys criticized the government for failing to notify victims before moving to unseal the grand jury materials, a step they argued could compromise privacy and safety.
Berman echoed those concerns, noting that maintaining confidentiality in certain aspects of the case remains crucial to protecting individuals involved.
Meanwhile, congressional scrutiny of the Epstein files has intensified. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer announced on August 5 that the DOJ would begin providing Epstein-related records to his committee by the end of that week, though the process of reviewing and redacting sensitive information would take time.
“There are many records in DOJ’s custody, and it will take the Department time to produce all the records and ensure the identification of victims and any child sexual abuse material are redacted,” Comer said in a statement, adding that he welcomed efforts by the Trump administration to promote transparency.
Why Did Trump Push for the Transcript?
The unusual element in this case remains the Trump administration’s decision to prioritize unsealing a single grand jury transcript rather than pursuing a broader release of Epstein-related files. Critics, including Judge Berman, have suggested the request distracted from a more comprehensive accounting of the government’s records.
The timing of the move also drew attention. Just days before the filing, a DOJ memo stating Epstein had no “client list” and died by suicide prompted frustration among Trump’s political base, who demanded fuller disclosure. Whether the push to unseal the transcript was motivated by those political pressures, or by a broader policy commitment to transparency, remains unclear.
