Justice Department to Release Epstein, Maxwell Files
NEW YORK – The Justice Department is preparing to make public a large amount of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. These files stem from investigations into their crimes.
Government lawyers have asked a judge to allow the release of a wide variety of records from Maxwell’s case. These include search warrants, financial documents, interviews with victims, data from electronic devices, and information from earlier investigations into Epstein that took place in Florida.
These records are currently under secrecy orders, but the Justice Department wants to lift these orders to comply with a new law. This law, passed by Congress and signed into law, requires the public release of investigative materials related to Epstein and Maxwell.
The Justice Department is working with survivors and their lawyers to make sure that the identities of victims are protected. They will also be removing any sexually explicit images from the files before they are released.
A judge is also considering a similar request for materials from Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case. The judge has given the Justice Department a deadline to provide detailed descriptions of the records they want to make public. The judge will review the material privately before making a decision.
Epstein was a wealthy financier who socialized with many well-known people. He committed suicide in jail after being arrested in 2019. Maxwell was found guilty in 2021 of helping Epstein abuse teenage girls. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The Justice Department has described the material they want to release as “grand jury transcripts and exhibits.” A judge has ordered the government to provide more details about the materials so that victims can understand what will be made public.
