Obama judge denies DOJ request to unseal grand jury material in Epstein/Maxwell case

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, appointed by Obama, denied the Justice Department’s attempt to unseal grand jury materials in Maxwell’s case. In a 31-page ruling, Engelmayer stated, "The Government's invocation of special circumstances, however, fails at the threshold." He noted the records offer no new insights into Maxwell’s or Epstein’s crimes.

Maxwell, a long-time associate of Jeffrey Epstein, is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, convicted in 2021. The Justice Department argued the case’s unique nature justified releasing transcripts and exhibits, typically kept secret. Engelmayer’s decision upholds federal laws protecting grand jury confidentiality, blocking access to the materials.

This ruling reinforces the legal barriers conveniently shielding sensitive case details from public disclosure.