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A federal judge in Florida has blocked the release of grand jury records linked to Jeffrey Epstein. This is a major setback for former President Donald Trump’s efforts to make the documents public. The judge said she could not legally approve the request, even though the government pushed for it.
This happened just one day after judges in New York also told the Justice Department that its requests to unseal Epstein-related documents were not strong enough. The New York court gave the DOJ one more week to improve its filing. During this time, Epstein’s victims, Ghislaine Maxwell, and others involved can share their thoughts before August 5.
Trump had promised in the past to reveal everything about Epstein. But now, he is facing pressure himself. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was told in May that his name appears in the Epstein files. The report made it clear that being named does not mean Trump did anything wrong.
Still, this news has upset some of Trump’s supporters. Even people in the MAGA movement are now asking for all the Epstein documents to be released, even if it includes information about Trump. Some are accusing Trump of backing away from his promises.
Judge Robin Rosenberg in Florida explained that her “hands are tied.” She said the law does not allow her to unseal grand jury records. Government lawyers agreed during the hearing that the law prevents this from happening.
The legal fight is not over. The Florida decision does not affect the New York case, which follows different court rules. Whether or not those files will be made public depends on what the DOJ files next and how the New York judges respond.
At the same time, Ghislaine Maxwell is appealing her 2021 conviction for crimes related to trafficking minors. She is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her case. The Justice Department has asked to meet with her and is opposing her appeal. Maxwell is still in prison and is not expected to be released until 2037.
The House Oversight Committee has also asked Maxwell to give a statement from prison on August 11. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson ended the House session early for the summer break. This move helped avoid a vote on releasing Epstein-related documents.
The situation is becoming more tense. Political pressure is building, and many people are watching to see what happens next. The big question remains: Will the Epstein files ever be released?