US Court Approves Release of Epstein Sex Abuse Investigation Files

Decision Follows Passage of the Epstein Act

The late Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

The U.S. federal court has ordered the release of documents related to the criminal indictment of the late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This decision comes about three weeks after the U.S. Congress passed a bill mandating the disclosure of the so-called "Epstein case files," which have been the subject of allegations implicating former President Donald Trump.

According to CNN and Politico, Judge Richard Berman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York approved a request from the Department of Justice on December 10 (local time) to release grand jury materials related to Epstein's indictment.

This decision follows the passage of the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" by the U.S. Congress on November 18, which requires the release of investigative materials on Epstein. The previous day, Judge Paul Engelmayer of the same court also ordered the release of court testimony records related to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former partner and accomplice.

The Epstein Act compels the Attorney General to release all confidential records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein and his co-conspirator Maxwell by December 19.

Judge Berman ordered not only the release of the grand jury records in the Epstein case but also the disclosure of investigative materials provided by prosecutors to the defense during the discovery process, which is part of the trial proceedings. He further instructed that the identities and privacy of the victims in the Epstein case be thoroughly protected.

Once the investigative materials regarding Epstein and Maxwell are released, a vast trove of previously undisclosed evidence is expected to become available to the public. CNN reported that the specific contents of the evidence and the timing of the release remain unclear.

Epstein, a billionaire and former hedge fund manager, was arrested and put on trial on charges of committing sex crimes against dozens of minors and other women at his homes and estates. He died in prison in 2019. Although his death was officially ruled a suicide, conspiracy theories have persisted, including claims that there exists a list of prominent political and business figures who received sexual favors from Epstein, and that his death was not a suicide but a homicide.

During the presidential election, President Trump rallied his supporters by claiming that the "Deep State" was behind Epstein's death. However, after taking office, he was criticized for his lukewarm attitude toward releasing information, fueling suspicions that he was attempting to conceal the truth.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.