A federal judge in Manhattan has issued a strict 24-hour deadline to the US Justice Department, demanding it detail precisely which sealed materials from the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case it intends to make public.
Judge's Deadline for Transparency
Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ordered government lawyers to file a letter by noon on Wednesday describing the materials they plan to release. This directive came after the Justice Department requested permission on Monday to unseal grand jury records, exhibits, and discovery materials from the case against the British socialite.
Judge Engelmayer emphasised that the description must be "in sufficient detail to meaningfully inform victims" what will become public. This push for transparency is part of the department's effort to comply with the newly enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law last week by President Donald Trump.
Case Background and Next Steps
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in helping the financier Jeffrey Epstein recruit underage victims. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Epstein, who was arrested in 2019, died by suicide in jail a month later.
The judge has also outlined a schedule for responses. Maxwell and the victims of both Maxwell and Epstein have until December 3 to respond to the government's unsealing request. The government must then reply to any submissions by December 10. Judge Engelmayer stated he will rule "promptly thereafter".
In a parallel proceeding, Judge Richard M. Berman, who presided over the Epstein case, has set similar deadlines for victims and Epstein's estate to respond to the unsealing request concerning Epstein's own case files.
What the Files May Reveal
The discovery materials subject to secrecy orders are expected to be extensive. They are likely to include sensitive items such as victim interviews and other evidence that was previously only accessible to the legal teams and Maxwell herself before her trial.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates that the Justice Department release these related files in a searchable format by December 19. The recent court filings are among the first public indications that the department is actively working to meet this legal requirement.
Judge Engelmayer, who was assigned to the case after the original trial judge was elevated to a higher court, is now overseeing the complex process of balancing public transparency with the privacy and legal rights of the victims involved.
