judge orders release of Epstein documents

Washington (dpa) — A US federal judge in Florida has ordered the release of some documents related to the investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The files covered by Friday’s judgement include grand jury transcripts from federal proceedings against Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Following immense public pressure including from within his own ranks, US President Donald Trump signed a law at the end of November ordering the Justice Department to release all Epstein files by December 19.

Ordering the release of the grand jury documents, US District Judge Rodney Smith in Fort Lauderdale ruled that the recently passed federal law takes precedence over a regulation prohibiting the disclosure of grand jury materials.

It comes after another federal judge in Florida rejected a government request to release documents related to the Epstein case. The significance of the grand jury materials was initially unclear.

Although Trump repeatedly called for the files to be released during his election campaign, he initially refused to do so after taking office in January.

Epstein, a wealthy financier with powerful connections, was charged with running a sex trafficking ring that exploited underage girls for a string of prominent clients. He died in jail in 2019 in what authorities ruled a suicide.

His death has prompted wild speculation on account of his contact with celebrities, billionaires and top-level politicians. Trump and Epstein were close associates for a time.