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The Epstein Files Transparency Act triggered new urgency in a Manhattan courtroom this week. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer asked the Justice Department for a detailed list of materials it intends to release from the Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking case. He issued the order on Tuesday and set a strict deadline for noon Wednesday.
Engelmayer said the Justice Department must describe each item clearly. He wants victims to understand exactly what the government plans to publish. His directive marks a new phase in the court’s effort to manage growing public pressure for disclosure.
DOJ Pushes to Release Materials
The Justice Department filed its request Monday. Officials sought permission to unseal grand jury records, discovery files, and case exhibits. They said the Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the release of these materials. Congress passed the law last week, and President Donald Trump signed it immediately.
The act demands that government agencies publish Epstein-related documents in a searchable format by December 19. The new filing signals the DOJ’s first visible step toward meeting that deadline.
Victims and Maxwell May Respond
Engelmayer reminded both Maxwell and the victims that they may respond next month. He said they must file objections or support statements by December 3. The government must reply to those filings by December 10. He promised to issue a decision soon afterward.
Maxwell now serves a 20-year sentence for recruiting underage victims for Jeffrey Epstein. A federal jury convicted her in 2021. Epstein himself died in jail in 2019. Authorities said he took his own life one month after his arrest.
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New Judge Manages Post-Trial Disputes
Although Engelmayer did not oversee the trial, he now manages all remaining motions. He stepped in after Judge Alison J. Nathan joined the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Discovery materials once hidden by secrecy orders include victim interviews and sensitive investigative records. Lawyers previously viewed these documents only during trial preparation.
A Second Judge Issues a Parallel Order
Judge Richard M. Berman, who handled the Epstein case before Epstein’s death, issued a similar order Tuesday. He said victims and Epstein’s estate may respond to the DOJ’s unsealing request by December 3. He allowed the government until December 8 to reply. Berman said he will resolve the motion as quickly as possible.
Attorneys for several victims declined to comment. A spokesperson for federal prosecutors also withheld remarks.
