DOJ Requests Judge Unseal Grand Jury Testimony In Epstein, Maxwell Cases At Trump’s Behest

Attorney General Pam Bondi officially requested on Friday that a federal judge unseal grand jury testimony from the cases against child rapist Jeffrey Epstein and child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

The request, filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, will place the decision to release any Epstein testimony in the hands of Judge Richard M. Berman, who was overseeing the case when Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019.

“Since July 6, 2025, there has been extensive public interest in the basis for the Memorandum’s conclusions. While the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to adhere to the conclusions reached in the Memorandum, transparency to the American public is of the utmost importance to this Administration,” Bondi, along with her deputy, Todd Blance, wrote in the court filing.

“Given the public interest in the investigative work conducted by the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation into Epstein, the Department of Justice moves the Court to unseal the underlying grand jury transcripts … subject to appropriate redactions of victim-related and other personal identifying information,” the filing added.

The DOJ added that it will “work with the United States Attorney’s Office for [the] Southern District of New York to make appropriate redactions of victim-related information and other personal identifying information prior to releasing the transcripts.”

“Transparency in this process will not be at the expense of our obligation under the law to protect victims,” the filing stated.

The move from the Trump administration comes amid weeks of controversy surrounding the administration’s handling of the Epstein case and after President Donald Trump directed Bondi to “produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.” The DOJ concluded earlier this month that there was no “credible evidence” to prove that Epstein kept a client list or that he blackmailed powerful people who supposedly took part in Epstein’s sex crimes. The DOJ also said that, according to all available evidence, Epstein committed suicide in his jail cell.

Just 17% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the Epstein case, and more than two-thirds of Americans believe the federal government is hiding information on the case, according to a poll conducted earlier this week by Reuters. Despite the poor polling on the issue, however, Trump’s approval remains extremely high among Republicans as Democrats latch onto the issue to blast the president and the GOP.

The Trump administration, especially Bondi, was criticized after the DOJ released its findings. The attorney general said in February that she had Epstein’s client list on her desk, but recently, she clarified that she meant she had the Epstein files on her desk for review. The president has blasted those who are focusing on the Epstein case, including his “past supporters,” whom he argues have fallen for a “hoax” pushed by Democrats.

As the controversy surrounding the case continues, Maxwell is seeking to appeal her conviction and 20-year sentence.