On November 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, seeking to unseal grand jury transcripts linked to the sex trafficking cases of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. This action follows the recent congressional approval of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires the Justice Department to disclose all unclassified records related to Epstein within a 30-day period. The motion emphasizes the necessity of lifting protective orders that may restrict public access to these records, while also committing to redact personal identifying information concerning victims.

The motion was signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and U.S. Attorney Jason Quinones. The Justice Department is expediting this request in light of the Act's deadline. President Donald Trump, who had previously expressed opposition to the bill but has connections to Epstein, signed it into law on November 20. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Epstein, a financier with ties to numerous political and social elites, was indicted on child sex trafficking charges in July 2019, shortly before his death in a Manhattan jail, which was ruled a suicide. Maxwell, Epstein's associate, was indicted in June 2020 for her role in facilitating Epstein's trafficking operations, leading to her conviction in December 2021 and a 20-year prison sentence.

The request to unseal the grand jury records is part of the Justice Department's ongoing efforts, which faced a setback in August when a New York judge denied a similar request, stating that the materials would not provide new insights into the cases. Epstein's history includes a controversial 2008 guilty plea in Florida for soliciting prostitution, which resulted in a plea deal allowing him to serve only 13 months in county jail.

The Epstein case has drawn renewed scrutiny, particularly following the release of a memo by the Justice Department indicating that Epstein had an 'incriminating client list' but found no credible evidence of blackmail against prominent individuals. This memo has sparked criticism from Epstein's accusers, especially after Bondi's earlier claims regarding the existence of a client list. Various documents related to Epstein have been released over the years, with the most recent batch comprising tens of thousands of pages made public by House Democrats and the House Oversight Committee earlier this month.

In related developments, Danielle Bensky, a survivor of Epstein's abuse, criticized Trump for dismissing victims' advocacy as a "hoax" following his signing of the transparency bill. Bensky emphasized the importance of accountability for those who facilitated Epstein's actions and expressed concerns over potential redactions in the upcoming release of files. Furthermore, discussions have emerged regarding the Democratic Party's perceived inaction on releasing Epstein-related documents during President Joe Biden's administration, with some members questioning the rationale behind the delay.

The political landscape surrounding the Epstein files continues to evolve, with implications for accountability and transparency in cases involving powerful individuals. As the Justice Department moves forward with its request, the public's demand for access to these files remains a critical aspect of the ongoing discourse.