On December 5, 2025, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith in Florida granted the Department of Justice's (DOJ) request to unseal grand jury transcripts from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. This ruling aligns with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, recently enacted by Congress, which requires the Attorney General to publicly disclose all unclassified materials related to Epstein and Maxwell.

The judge's decision allows the DOJ to release documents from a federal grand jury investigation conducted in 2006-2007. This follows earlier denials for the release of similar materials earlier in the year. The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates that all unclassified records and investigative materials related to Epstein be disclosed within 30 days of its enactment, with a deadline set for December 19.

The act, which received overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress, was initially met with opposition from former President Donald Trump, who later shifted his stance after bipartisan pressure. The law prohibits withholding records solely to prevent embarrassment to public figures or government officials, emphasizing accountability in cases involving sexual exploitation and abuse.

The DOJ is also pursuing the unsealing of materials from two additional investigations related to Epstein, including his 2019 sex-trafficking case and Maxwell's 2021 prosecution. This ruling marks the first successful unsealing of Epstein-related grand jury records under the new law, highlighting ongoing efforts to increase transparency and accountability in cases of sexual misconduct.

Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges, which included allegations of sexual exploitation of minors. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in facilitating Epstein's abuse of underage girls.