The Jeffrey Epstein saga just hit another legal wall — and this one’s in Florida.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg ruled that her “hands are tied” when it comes to releasing the 2005 and 2007 federal grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation in West Palm Beach. Translation: the Justice Department wanted transparency to quiet the firestorm around Epstein’s lenient plea deal, but under Eleventh Circuit precedent, Rosenberg says she simply can’t do it.
This isn’t some technicality. It’s about the ironclad rules surrounding grand jury secrecy. Rosenberg flat-out said the DOJ’s request doesn’t meet any of the “narrow” exceptions to those rules. The government basically conceded the point, too. She also rejected a creative suggestion to punt the case to New York, where another judge is weighing a similar request tied to Epstein’s later indictment.
Republicans are getting out of DC with the quickness today — in hopes of leaving the Epstein story behind.
But the history of August recesses when there’s a big issue in the country suggests they may not be able to run away from it. pic.twitter.com/D2SRpu3K3B
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) July 23, 2025
So, what’s the big deal? Those Florida grand jury transcripts could shed light on how Epstein — who federal prosecutors now say harmed over 1,000 victims — walked away in 2008 with a sweetheart plea deal: a single state-level solicitation charge and 13 months in jail, most of it on work release. That deal is at the heart of the outrage and the conspiracy theories that have swirled since his 2019 “suicide” in a Manhattan jail.
Flag: Mike Johnson says he has no plans to bring up the non-binding, bipartisan resolution calling for the release of the Epstein files before the August recess.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1.bsky.social) July 21, 2025 at 4:10 PM
And make no mistake — this ruling lands right in the middle of a political powder keg. Trump recently ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to “produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony” in the Epstein case after massive backlash to a DOJ-FBI memo declaring no new charges or disclosures were coming.
Last night, Republicans shut down the House floor to block a planned vote on releasing the Epstein files.
They’re now getting ready to leave for August recess.
Cowards.
— Democrats (@democrats.org) July 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
That order came just hours after The Wall Street Journal published its now-infamous report about Trump allegedly sending a “bawdy” birthday letter to Epstein — a report Trump says is fake, and one he’s suing Rupert Murdoch and the Journal over.
Meanwhile, New York judges handling related motions in Epstein’s and Ghislaine Maxwell’s cases are taking a slower, more methodical approach. They’ve demanded the DOJ hand over sealed transcripts with proposed redactions and are inviting victims, Maxwell’s lawyers, and even Epstein’s estate to weigh in by August 5.
So here’s where we are: Florida says no. New York’s still thinking. And the DOJ? They’ve been scolded by multiple judges for submitting legally deficient motions.
