Federal judges reject DOJ bids to unseal Epstein files and call the rationale false

Three federal judges rejected DOJ petitions to unseal Jeffrey Epstein grand jury materials between July 23 and August 20, 2025. Judge Robin Rosenberg denied the Florida motion on July 23, citing 11th Circuit secrecy precedent. Judge Paul Engelmayer rejected the DOJ's bid to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell's grand jury records on August 11, calling the transparency rationale "demonstrably false" and the motion a "diversion." Judge Richard Berman denied the SDNY Epstein unsealing on August 20, writing the petition appeared designed to distract from files DOJ already held but had not released.