Federal judge grants Justice Department request to unseal Jeffrey Epstein grand jury documents.

Richard M Berman cites the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires the DoJ to release all Epstein records by 19 December

A demonstrator chants and holds a sign that reads ‘All I want for Christmas is the EPSTEIN FILES!’ in midtown Manhattan, New York. Photograph: Gina M Randazzo/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

A federal judge in New York has authorized the Department of Justice to make public the long-sealed grand jury materials tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex-trafficking prosecution.

The decision, issued by US District Judge Richard Berman, marks a reversal of his earlier ruling that kept the documents sealed. Berman pointed to a newly enacted federal law mandating the release of government files connected to Epstein, with a deadline set for next week.

Epstein was indicted on federal sex-trafficking charges in July 2019 but was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell the following month while awaiting trial.

The order follows a similar ruling issued just one day earlier by a separate judge overseeing matters related to Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for aiding Epstein’s abuse.

In his opinion, Judge Berman emphasized that while the records must be released, victims’ identities and personal details must remain protected. “Their safety and privacy are paramount,” he wrote.

The directive stems from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law last month by President Donald Trump. The statute compels the Justice Department to disclose its investigative materials on Epstein by December 19 — including unclassified documents, communications, and other records.

However, the law grants the department discretion to withhold materials tied to ongoing criminal investigations or any files that could infringe on individual privacy rights.