A legislative push led by Rep. Thomas Massie, to force transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case has resulted in three separate federal judges authorizing the release of long-sealed grand jury materials and related files, marking a major shift in a realm of the justice system that is almost always kept secret.
Massie announced the breakthrough on X, noting that “three federal judges who previously could not release grand jury material have now ruled that our Epstein Files Transparency Act has changed the legal landscape.” He highlighted that the judges will release all material with redactions to protect victims, linking to coverage of the latest ruling.
In a follow-up, Massie listed the specific decisions since the bill’s passage. These orders clear the Justice Department to unseal transcripts and evidence from the key federal probes into Epstein and Maxwell.
Summary of rulings to release since bill passage:
Judge Rodney Smith
Dec. 4
Southern District of Florida
2007 Epstein CaseJudge Paul Englemayer
Dec. 9
Southern District of New York
2021 Maxwell CaseJudge Richard Berman
Dec. 10
Southern District of New York
2019 Epstein Case— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 10, 2025
Judges Cite New Law Overriding Secrecy Rules
Judge Berman, who handled Epstein’s 2019 New York case, ruled that Congress “clearly” intended the Epstein Files Transparency Act to mandate public disclosure of grand jury and discovery materials. He emphasized that releases must protect Epstein victims’ identities and privacy as “paramount” under the law.
Judge Engelmayer applied the statute to Maxwell proceedings, unsealing grand jury records previously shielded by protective orders. Judge Smith’s Florida order covers 2005–2007 Epstein investigations, allowing transcripts and files subject to redactions for active probes and sensitive details.
Expansive Releases Set to Follow
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law last month, compels the Justice Department to disclose unclassified Epstein- and Maxwell-related documents by deadline, with limited redactions. The rulings carve out an exception to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e)’s secrecy mandate.
The disclosures will include grand jury transcripts, search warrant returns from Epstein properties, flight logs, financial records, electronic data, and victim interviews amassed over years of probes. Massie and bill supporters plan to monitor DOJ compliance to prevent delays or excessive redactions.youtube