Jeffrey Epstein grand jury records to remain sealed, US judge rules
Judge Richard Berman said the material paled in comparison to the trove of records the government has about the case but is not releasing.
NEW YORK - A US judge denied on Aug 20 the Justice Department's bid to unseal records from the grand jury that indicted the late financier Jeffrey Epstein on sex trafficking charges, saying the material paled in comparison to the trove of records the government has about the case but is not releasing.
Manhattan-based US District Judge Richard Berman's decision came as President Donald Trump has sought to quell discontent from his conservative base of supporters over his administration's decision not to release
files of the case.
The judge wrote that it would be more logical for the government to directly release the vast amount of information it has collected from its investigation into Epstein than to petition the court to release the more limited grand jury materials, whose secrecy is protected by law.
'The Government's 100,000 pages of Epstein files and materials dwarf the 70 odd pages of Epstein grand jury materials,' Judge Berman wrote.
'The grand jury testimony is merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged conduct.'
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr Trump, a Republican, had campaigned for a second term in 2024 with promises to make public Epstein-related files, and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But in July, the Justice Department declined to release any more material from its investigation of the case and said
a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Mr Trump's supporters.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane
Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying classmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE
Singapore Woman trapped between train doors: Judge rules SBS Transit '100% responsible'
Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study
Life Record number of arts patrons in 2024, but overall donation dips to $45.74m
Life 'Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of Singapore indie cinema The Projector
Singapore Nearly 2 years' jail, caning for man caught with at least 100 sexually explicit videos of children
Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch
Evidence seen and heard by grand juries, which operate behind closed doors to prevent interference in criminal investigations, cannot be released without a judge's approval.
In July, Mr Trump instructed Attorney-General Pam Bondi to seek court approval for the release of grand jury material from Epstein's case.
The grand jury that indicted Epstein heard from just one witness, an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Justice Department said in a court filing in July.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty.
His death in jail and his friendships with the wealthy and powerful sparked conspiracy theories that other prominent people were involved in his alleged crimes and that he was murdered. The New York City chief medical examiner determined that Epstein's death was a suicide by hanging.
On Aug 11, a different Manhattan-based judge, Paul Engelmayer, denied a similar request by the Justice Department to unseal grand jury testimony and exhibits from the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime girlfriend. Maxwell is
serving a 20-year prison sentence following her 2021 conviction for recruiting underage girls for Epstein to abuse.
Judge Engelmayer wrote that the public would not learn anything new from the release of materials from Maxwell's grand jury because much of the evidence was made public at her month-long trial four years earlier. The grand jury testimony contained no evidence of others besides Epstein and Maxwell who had sexual contact with minors, Judge Engelmayer wrote.
Maxwell had pleaded not guilty. After losing an appeal, she has asked the US Supreme Court to review her case.
In July, a Florida judge rejected the administration's request to unseal grand jury records from federal investigations there into Epstein in 2005 and 2007. Epstein served a 13-month sentence after pleading guilty in 2008 to a state-level prostitution charge as part of a deal now widely regarded as too lenient. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 minutes ago
- Straits Times
First security guarantees, then Putin summit, Ukraine's Zelensky says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Law enforcement personnel watching smoke rising over a US-owned business in Ukraine's Zakarpattia region, after it was hit by Russian missiles on Aug 21. KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he could meet with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but only after his allies agree security guarantees for Ukraine to deter future Russian attacks once the fighting stops. In comments released on Aug 21, he also warned that both sides were preparing for further fighting. Russia was building up troops on the southern front line and Ukraine was test-launching a new long-range cruise missile, he said. Russia said on Aug 21 that Ukraine did not appear to be interested in 'long-term' peace, accusing Kyiv of seeking security guarantees completely incompatible with Moscow's demands. US President Donald Trump is trying to end Russia's three-and-a-half year invasion of Ukraine through talks with Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin. While he has upended a years-long Western policy of isolating the Russian leader, he has made little tangible progress towards a peace deal. 'We want to have an understanding of the security guarantees architecture within seven to 10 days,' Mr Zelensky said, in comments to reporters released for publication on Aug 21. 'We need to understand which country will be ready to do what at each specific moment,' he added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Courier tip-off leads to HSA seizure of Kpods, drugs in Tampines and Grange Road raids Singapore Large flocks of parakeets a spectacle in Choa Chu Kang, but they may affect native species Singapore Singapore students shine in Paris with record medal haul at history Olympiad Singapore Teacher charged over allegedly making student undress in video call, sending her his nude photo Singapore Painting by police NSF presented to Shanmugam to commemorate 50 years of Police National Service Business 8 more active ETFs by JPMorgan Asset Management available to Singapore investors Business Changi Travel Services cuts 30 staff amid market shifts Asia HK water scandal: How distrust over China bottled water sparked a probe into govt contract A group of allies led by Britain and France are putting together a military coalition to support the guarantees. Fresh Russian barrage Once an outline of the security guarantees is agreed, Mr Trump would like to see a bilateral meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader said. But any meeting with the Russian leader should he held in a 'neutral' European country, he added, ruling out any summit in Moscow. He also rejected the idea of China playing a role in guaranteeing Ukraine's security, citing Beijing's alleged support for Moscow. In a daily address on Aug 21, Mr Zelensky accused Russia of avoiding the 'necessity' of holding a meeting between the two countries' leaders. 'Current signals from Russia are, to be honest, indecent. They're trying to avoid the necessity to meet. They don't want to end this war,' Mr Zelensky said. His comments came as Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Ukraine overnight – the biggest barrage since mid-July – killing one person in the western city of Lviv and wounding many others. Russian missiles also targeted an American-owned factory complex in town of Mukachevo in the west of Ukraine, wounding 19 people, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on social media. President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine Andy Hunder said that the factory was 'one of the largest American investments in Ukraine. 'Russia continues to destroy and humiliate US businesses in Ukraine, targeting companies that invest and trade on the US stock markets,' Mr Hunder said on Facebook. France on Aug 21 condemned the overnight strikes as showing Moscow's 'lack of will to seriously engage in peace talks', describing them as the 'most massive attack in a month'. A later shelling of the city of Kherson killed one person and wounded more than a dozen, a local official said. Meanwhile in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine's Donetsk region, two people were killed and at least 21 wounded after a Ukrainian shelling, the Russian-installed regional chief, Mr Denis Pushilin, said on Telegram. Russia claims advances On the front lines, Russia said it had captured the village of Oleksandro-Shultyne in the eastern Donetsk region, the latest in a long string of territorial gains. The village lies less than 8km from Kostiantynivka, a fortified town in the Donetsk region that Russia has been pressing towards on both sides. In comments to journalists on Aug 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of making unrealistic security demands. Any deployment of European troops to the country would be 'absolutely unacceptable', he said. Rhetorics of the Ukrainian officials 'was directly showing that they are not interested in a sustainable, fair, long-term settlement,' Mr Lavrov added. Mr Zelensky also announced that Ukraine had tested a long-range cruise missile, known as Flamingo, that can strike targets as far as 3,000km away. 'The missile has undergone successful tests. It is currently our most successful missile,' he told reporters. Mass production could begin by February, he added. Since Mr Trump returned to the White House in January and began pushing for an end to the fighting, Russian forces have continued to slowly but steadily gain ground across the front line. Mr Zelensky said Russian forces were building up troops along the front in the Zaporizhzhia region, which Moscow claims as its own – along with four other Ukrainian regions. Mr Trump met Mr Putin in Alaska on Aug 15, before bringing Mr Zelensky and European leaders to Washington for separate talks on Aug 18. Mr Zelensky has said the only way to end the war is a meeting with Mr Putin, and has said Mr Trump should be present too. But Moscow has played down the prospect of a summit between Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky any time soon, saying it wants to be included in discussions on future security guarantees for Ukraine. AFP
Straits Times
33 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US issues sanctions on networks, vessels for dealing in Iran oil
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: U.S. and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo WASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Thursday issued more Iran-related sanctions, targeting 13 entities based in Hong Kong, China, the United Arab Emirates and the Marshall Islands, as well as eight vessels, the U.S. Treasury Department said. The measures cover Greek national Antonios Margaritis and his network of companies and vessels that Treasury said was involved in transporting Iranian oil exports in violation of sanctions. Treasury also designated Ares Shipping Limited in Hong Kong, Comford Management in the Marshall Islands and Hong Kong Hangshun Shipping Limited in Hong Kong. Designated crude oil tankers include Panama-flagged vessels Adeline G and Kongm, and Lafit under the flag of Sao Tome and Principe. The State Department separately said it imposed sanctions on two China-based operators of oil-related terminals and storage. It said they handled imports of Iranian oil aboard tankers previously targeted by U.S. sanctions. The firms were identified as Qingdao Port Haiye Dongjiakou Oil Products Co in Shandong province and Yangshan Shengang International Petroleum Storage and Transportation Co in Zhejiang province. Iran suspended talks with Washington aimed at curbing the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions after the U.S. and Israel struck its nuclear sites in June. Iran denies any intent to develop atomic bombs. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Courier tip-off leads to HSA seizure of Kpods, drugs in Tampines and Grange Road raids Singapore Large flocks of parakeets a spectacle in Choa Chu Kang, but they may affect native species Singapore Singapore students shine in Paris with record medal haul at history Olympiad Singapore Teacher charged over allegedly making student undress in video call, sending her his nude photo Singapore Painting by police NSF presented to Shanmugam to commemorate 50 years of Police National Service Business 8 more active ETFs by JPMorgan Asset Management available to Singapore investors Business Changi Travel Services cuts 30 staff amid market shifts Asia HK water scandal: How distrust over China bottled water sparked a probe into govt contract Iran's top diplomat said on Wednesday that the moment for "effective" nuclear talks with the United States has not yet arrived, adding that Iran would not completely cut off cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. REUTERS
Straits Times
33 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Leader of 'cult-like' UK Christian group guilty of sexually abusing women
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - The leader of a "cult-like" Christian group once backed by the Church of England has been convicted of sexually abusing nine women in his congregation, after a jury returned their final verdicts on Thursday. Chris Brain, 68, led the Nine O'Clock Service, an evangelical church movement based in Sheffield, northern England, in the 1980s and 1990s. The group's nightclub-style services, which were held at 9 p.m. on Sundays, were aimed at young people, featured a live band and attracted hundreds of people at its peak. But, prosecutors said, Brain controlled members of the congregation, cutting them off from family and friends, and abused his position to sexually assault "a staggering number of women". Brain also had a "homebase team" of young women who looked after him, his wife and daughter at their house in Sheffield, who were dubbed "the lycra nuns", prosecutor Tim Clark said. He was charged with 36 counts of indecent assault and one count of rape relating to 13 women between 1981 and 1995. He denied the charges and said any sexual contact was consensual. After a trial at the Inner London Crown Court, Brain was convicted on Wednesday of 17 charges of indecent assault relating to nine women. He was acquitted of a further 15 counts. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Courier tip-off leads to HSA seizure of Kpods, drugs in Tampines and Grange Road raids Singapore Large flocks of parakeets a spectacle in Choa Chu Kang, but they may affect native species Singapore Singapore students shine in Paris with record medal haul at history Olympiad Singapore Teacher charged over allegedly making student undress in video call, sending her his nude photo Singapore Painting by police NSF presented to Shanmugam to commemorate 50 years of Police National Service Business 8 more active ETFs by JPMorgan Asset Management available to Singapore investors Business Changi Travel Services cuts 30 staff amid market shifts Asia HK water scandal: How distrust over China bottled water sparked a probe into govt contract The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining four counts of indecent assault and the alleged rape, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said on Thursday, adding it would "carefully consider" a retrial. 'FAILING OF THE CHURCH' The Nine O'Clock Service had the blessing of the Church of England. Prosecutors said in 1990 that the Archbishop of Canterbury-elect, George Carey, had met Brain to discuss his methods. Brain's ordination was fast-tracked and the Nine O'Clock Service spent "large sums of money" to obtain the outfit worn by actor Robert De Niro for the 1986 film 'The Mission' for the ceremony, prosecutors said. But Brain resigned and left the church days before the broadcast of a 1995 BBC documentary, which accused him of sexually inappropriate behaviour. Carey said he was "crushed and let down" when the allegations were made public. In his evidence, Brain said he received massages from members of the Nine O'Clock Service, which he said occasionally moved towards sexual activity. He also denied controlling or manipulating members of the congregation. "What happened was an appalling abuse of power and leadership that should never have occurred," Bishop of Sheffield Pete Wilcox said in a statement. "Where concerns were raised in the past and were not acted upon properly, that was a failing of the Church. For those institutional failures I offer an unreserved apology." REUTERS
