US Justice Department Files Motion To Unseal Epstein Transcripts: When Will They Be Made Public?

Last Updated:July 19, 2025, 09:42 IST

The DOJ’s filing came after Donald Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to act, following mounting pressure from his MAGA base to release Epstein-related records

Facing political backlash, Trump publicly urged Bondi to release “whatever is possible” and dismissed any allegations linking him to Epstein as politically motivated. (Image: Reuters)

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday asked a federal judge in the Southern District of New York to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. But despite the latest legal step, it remains unclear when, or if, the records will be made public.

The DOJ’s motion followed President Donald Trump’s public directive to Attorney General Pam Bondi to “produce any and all" testimony related to Epstein, subject to court approval. The nearly simultaneous developments came amid mounting pressure from Trump’s MAGA base, which has demanded full transparency and the release of what supporters often refer to as Epstein’s “client list."

In its court filing, the DOJ stated: “The public’s interest in the Epstein matter has remained. Given this longstanding and legitimate interest, the government now moves to unseal grand jury transcripts associated with Epstein."

When Will The Epstein Files Be Released?

Even with the DOJ’s motion before the court, there is no clear timeline for release. Under US federal law, the judge must first consult with Epstein’s victims and any uncharged individuals mentioned in the grand jury testimony. Their identities are protected, and the legal review and redaction process could take weeks, months, or even longer.

Importantly, the grand jury transcripts represent only a small portion of what is publicly referred to as the “Epstein files." According to a CNN report, these sealed transcripts are just one element within thousands of documents related to Epstein’s broader criminal investigation.

The larger cache of Epstein-related material — including FBI files, digital evidence, flight logs, surveillance photos, and internal communications — remains in the custody of the Justice Department and is not part of the current unsealing request.

DOJ Cites Public Interest

The DOJ’s motion includes not just grand jury materials from the Epstein investigation, but also transcripts tied to the case of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of luring underage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein.

Citing growing public scrutiny, the filing stated: “Public officials, lawmakers, pundits, and ordinary citizens remain deeply interested and concerned about the Epstein matter. Notably, the privacy interests at stake on the other side of the balance are substantially diminished due to Epstein’s death."

The department also noted that it had reviewed the transcripts to “determine whether evidence existed that could predicate an investigation into uncharged third parties."

MAGA Outrage And Trump’s Public Push

The DOJ’s move came amid a wave of criticism from Trump’s supporters, who accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of avoiding transparency. Facing political backlash, Trump publicly urged Bondi to release “whatever is possible" and dismissed any allegations linking him to Epstein as politically motivated, blaming “Comey, Obama, and Biden."

WSJ Report Sparks Legal Action

The controversy escalated after The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had allegedly sent Epstein a 2003 birthday letter featuring a naked woman and referencing a “shared secret." The paper said it reviewed the note but did not publish an image.

Trump denied the authenticity of the letter, called the report false and defamatory, and on Friday filed a defamation lawsuit in federal court in Miami against WSJ and media magnate Rupert Murdoch, threatening to “sue the ass off" them for political sabotage.

What Are The Epstein Files?

The term “Epstein files" refers to a vast trove of legal documents, investigative records, and court materials tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s decades-long sex trafficking operation, one that implicated some of the world’s most powerful people.

Key components of the broader case file include:

Flight logs from Epstein’s private jets, especially his Boeing 727, the so-called “Lolita Express," which reportedly ferried celebrities, business leaders, and politicians to his private island.Deposition transcripts from Epstein, Maxwell, victims, witnesses, and staff.Financial and offshore business records tied to Epstein’s wealth and network.Civil lawsuits filed by victims naming Epstein, Maxwell, and other unnamed individuals.Sealed grand jury materials and court orders, some of which remain confidential to this day due to ongoing investigations or victim protections.

While some documents have been unsealed in past civil cases, the majority of records remain inaccessible to the public, including those held under seal by the DOJ.

What Happens Next?

If the court approves the DOJ’s motion, the unsealing process will begin, but only after redactions are made to protect the identities of victims and other individuals not formally charged. This legal process is complex and could take time.

Even then, the transcripts expected to be released will reflect only a narrow slice of the full Epstein story. The motion does not cover the broader files amassed by federal investigators over the years of probes.

So while the Justice Department’s latest move marks a notable step, the vast majority of what’s known as the “Epstein files" remains sealed, and may stay that way for the foreseeable future.

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News world US Justice Department Files Motion To Unseal Epstein Transcripts: When Will They Be Made Public?