Trump administration asks judges to release Epstein, Maxwell grand jury transcripts, World News
The Justice Department first sought court permission on July 18 to make public transcripts of the confidential testimony given by witnesses years ago in the two cases, but Manhattan-based US District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer asked the government to flesh out the legal bases for the requests.
In a pair of court filings just before midnight, prosecutors said unsealing the materials would be appropriate given the "abundant public interest" in the Epstein case and persistent scrutiny of how it was handled by federal law enforcement.
The Epstein case has been at the centre of conspiracy theories for years. Trump has faced pressure in recent months to make public documents from the federal investigations into Epstein and Maxwell.
Epstein hanged himself in jail in 2019, an autopsy concluded, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges brought by federal prosecutors. He had pleaded not guilty. Maxwell, Epstein's longtime girlfriend, was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking charges and is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Florida. Maxwell had pleaded not guilty and is now asking the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction.
Trump said this month he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury transcripts in the two cases. The president did so after the Justice Department said it concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that there was no incriminating list of his clients.
The Justice Department's announcement angered some of Trump's conservative supporters who believe the government is covering up Epstein's ties to the rich and powerful and that the financier was murdered in jail.
Grand juries are convened by prosecutors and meet in secret to hear witness testimony and decide whether to indict people suspected of crimes. Records of their proceedings usually remain sealed. There are only limited circumstances under which such transcripts can be disclosed.
Even if one or both of the judges allow the transcripts to be made public, it is not clear whether the public would learn anything new or noteworthy. Maxwell's four-week trial in 2021 included public testimony from alleged sex trafficking victims, associates of Epstein and Maxwell, and law enforcement officers.
The transcripts also would not represent all the previously unreleased material in the government's possession. Investigators and prosecutors may pursue leads that they cannot substantiate or interview potential witnesses whom they do not ultimately call to testify before a grand jury.
US District Judge Robin Rosenberg in Florida on July 23 denied the administration's request to unseal records from grand jury investigations in 2005 and 2007 in that state into Epstein. The judge found that the request did not fall into any of the limited exceptions that may allow for the release of such material.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a prostitution charge brought under Florida law and was given a 13-month sentence in a deal with prosecutors now widely regarded as too lenient.
Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, last week met with Maxwell for two days to see if she had any information about others who had committed crimes. Maxwell's lawyer David Markus and Blanche have not provided detailed accounts of their discussions.
[[nid:720547]]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Singapore Law Watch
2 hours ago
- Singapore Law Watch
Park Hotel Management director breached fiduciary duty by selling assets to himself under value
Park Hotel Management director breached fiduciary duty by selling assets to himself under value Source: Straits Times Article Date: 07 Aug 2025 Author: Grace Leong The court has ruled that Allen Law transferred the viable assets and businesses of his company, Park Hotel Management, effectively to himself 'at a gross undervalue'. Mr Allen Law, the scion of Hong Kong-based billionaire Law Kar Po, was found to have breached his fiduciary duties and prejudiced the interests of creditors, while navigating his company Park Hotel Management (PHMPL) through financial challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a 165-page High Court judgment released on Aug 6, Mr Law, the sole director and shareholder of PHMPL, sold assets to himself at 'gross undervalue' and diverted more than $32 million in cash and receivables for his benefit. 'When (Mr Law's) company was in financial peril, he transferred its viable assets and businesses (effectively) to himself at a gross undervalue and manipulated the books of the company to eliminate receivables owed by him and his entities, leaving the creditors with nothing,' High Court Judge Hri Kumar Nair noted. 'Far from demonstrating selflessness, Mr Law showed contempt for his fiduciary obligations... While PHMPL may have failed because of events beyond his control, his response was entirely regrettable. 'He appropriated PHMPL's assets for himself and manipulated PHMPL's books to hide his subterfuge. His conduct, both in relation to the 'restructuring' and his defence of these proceedings, was dishonest and dishonourable. His first and only thought was to benefit himself,' the judge said. Mr Law and three other companies were sued by PHMPL and its liquidators over matters relating to assets sold to entities related to him before the company was placed in liquidation in July 2021 in the wake of the pandemic, which had devastated the hospitality industry globally. The three defendant companies are Park Hotel Group Management (PHG), British Virgin Islands-incorporated Good Movement Holdings and Singapore Institute of Hospitality (SIOH). PHG and SIOH are owned by Good Movement, which in turn is owned by Mr Law, who is married to Ms Tan Shin Hui, granddaughter of former UOB chairman, the late Mr Wee Cho Yaw. She is the executive director of PHG. PHMPL was also the sole shareholder of hotel management company Park Hotel Management (Maldives), restaurant operator Yan and Park Hotel Affiliates (PHA). Due to plummeting occupancy rates and pandemic-related restrictions, Park Hotel CQ, operator of the former Park Hotel Clarke Quay property in Unity Street; and Grand Park OR, operator of the former Grand Park Orchard hotel, were unable to meet their lease obligations. Despite efforts to negotiate with landlords and seek relief under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, PHMPL's financial position became increasingly precarious. A sale of PHMPL's assets was done in March 2021. But the liquidators said that PHMPL did not receive any consideration for the substantial assets it disposed of. This included a sum of $2.7 million for assets sold to PHG under an asset share and transfer agreement (ASTA) in March 2021. The assets included 12 hotel management agreements, licence agreements, business names, and PHMPL trademarks. The shareholdings in Park Hotel Maldives were purchased by PHG and Good Movement for US$40,000 (S$51,490), while the shareholding in Yan was purchased by Good Movement for $500,000, and the assets of the Singapore Institute of Hospitality were sold by PHMPL for $200,000. 'The effect of the agreements was that PHMPL's assets... were transferred to the defendant companies for a total sum of $3.4 million and US$40,000,' according to the judgment. 'But Mr Law... arranged it such that PHMPL did not even receive these sums,' Justice Nair said. Furthermore, the judge found that the market value of these assets amounted to $26.4 million and US$2.42 million. 'The transfer of assets and businesses from PHMPL to the defendant companies was only one part of Mr Law's plan. In the period when Park Hotel CQ and Grand Park OR were failing to meet their obligations under their respective leases, Mr Law extracted substantial amounts of cash from all three companies,' according to the ruling. In addition, Mr Law also breached the no-profit rule of the Companies Act when he diverted an opportunity to manage Park Hotel Kyoto to PHG, to the detriment of PHMPL. The second part of the plan, the judge found, 'was to cause PHMPL to declare and backdate substantial dividends in Mr Law's favour and to effect a series of transfers and set-offs in PHMPL's books, most of which were also backdated, to eliminate his and his entities' liabilities to PHMPL.' Mr Law received cash payments from PHMPL and also diverted receivables of $22.3 million due from his related companies to PHMPL. These amounts were set off against dividend declarations of $22 million and $5.9 million, and an accounting entry of $6.75 million in his favour. But the judge found that the dividend declarations were invalid as PHMPL was insolvent at the time they were made. As a result, Mr Law must repay $10.1 million in cash payments and $22.3 million in receivables. 'Given my findings that PHMPL was at the very least financially parlous by 31 December 2020 and Mr Law knew this, the cash payments were not in the interests of PHMPL and amount to breaches of Mr Law's fiduciary duties to PHMPL,' Justice Nair said. A representative from the defendants said: 'This remains a legacy matter arising from the exceptional circumstances of Covid lockdowns in 2020 and their unprecedented impact on the hospitality sector. The judgment is being reviewed and appropriate next steps are being considered.' Allen & Gledhill partners William Ong and Lee Bik Wei are acting for the plaintiffs, while Mr Law and the three defendant companies are represented by TSMP Law's senior counsel Thio Shen Yi. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Park Hotel Management Pte Ltd (in liquidation) and others v Law Ching Hung and others [2025] SGHC 149 Print
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Online kidnapping scams on the rise in Vietnam, targeting people living far from home
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Many of the victims admitted they had heard about these scams before, but still fell for them due to pressure, fear and isolation. HANOI - Vietnamese authorities are warning the public of a rising wave of sophisticated online scams known as 'virtual kidnapping', targeting students and young people, particularly those living away from home. Criminals impersonate police or prosecutors, claim the victim is involved in a crime and coerce them into isolation, while simultaneously extorting money from their families. On July 27, police in Hanoi's Ba Dinh Ward received a report from a man claiming his university-age son had been kidnapped. The father received a message demanding a ransom of 250 million dong (S$12,250). Within hours, local police, in coordination with Hanoi's Criminal Police Department, located the student in a nearby hotel. The son explained he had been contacted via phone by someone claiming to be an investigator. The caller accused him of involvement in a money laundering ring and instructed him to install a Zoom-based app for interrogation. Under pressure and fear, he followed instructions and sent a distress message to his parents, believing it was a legal procedure. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore PUB investigating waste water discharge in Eunos: Pritam World Trump eyes 100% chips tariff, but 0% for US investors like Apple Business DBS shares hit record-high after Q2 profit beats forecast on strong wealth fees, trading income Business UOB Q2 profit drops 6% to $1.34 billion, missing forecast Singapore ST and Uniqlo launch design contest for Singapore stories T-shirt collection World White House says Trump open to meeting Russia's Putin and Ukraine's Zelensky Singapore MRT track issue causes 5-hour delay; Jeffrey Siow says 'we can and will do better' A similar case occurred just days earlier in the capital city's Viet Hung Ward, where a 16-year-old was coerced into faking his own kidnapping and demanding 300 million dong from his family. He was later found alone in a hotel room after swift intervention by police. These 'virtual kidnappings' typically follow a pattern: scammers collect public information and photos of victims — often students living away from home — and then create fake social media accounts on Facebook or Zalo using their identities. They contact the victim's family and friends with urgent messages like 'I've been kidnapped abroad', 'If I ask for money, I'm being forced', or 'Call the police to rescue me.' To heighten panic, they use emotional language like 'Mom, please help!' or 'Are you online, Mom?' to manipulate family members into transferring money without verifying the situation. Multiple rescues in recent days Between Aug 2 and 5, police in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Dak Lak successfully resolved at least five such cases. On Aug 2, an 18-year-old student in Ho Chi Minh City was lured into a hotel room and asked his mother for 600 million dong under the pretext of needing financial proof for a study abroad application. Authorities tracked and rescued him the same night. Also on Aug 2, a third-year student disappeared from her dorm in HCM City. Scammers demanded 600 million dong from her family. Police found her in a hotel after she had already transferred 129 million dong. On Aug 5, a high school student from HCM City was lured 350km away to Dak Lak Province, where he was isolated in a motel. He had transferred nearly 80 million dong after being manipulated via calls and Zoom. Police found and rescued him early the next morning. Many of the victims admitted they had heard about these scams before, but still fell for them due to pressure, fear and isolation. Online awareness Journalist Hoang Anh Tu, former head of the editorial board of the Sinh Vien-Hoa Học Tro newspaper, said this reveals alarming gaps in family relationships today. Social media, with its strong appeal and influence, has increasingly become a more accessible companion for many teenagers. 'Young people are often more willing to confide in strangers online, where they feel heard and free from judgment. Meanwhile, within their own families, parents, due to busy schedules, life pressures or a lack of understanding of teenage psychology, may unintentionally create invisible barriers,' he said. He suggested that schools integrate digital skills education into the official curriculum. 'It's not enough to just teach math, physics, chemistry, and then tell students 'Figure out social media on your own',' he said. 'There should be practical lessons, like 'How can you tell if a stranger is trying to scam you?', 'What kind of messages might indicate bullying or grooming?', or 'What should you do if you're being threatened online?'' Building trust, sharing and being a solid emotional support for children is the most effective shield against cybercrime, he noted. According to Mr Tu, families need to shift from 'preaching' to 'truly walking alongside' their children. Instead of banning phone use, parents could try asking their children how much time they spend on their phone each day, what kind of content they like, or if anything online has made them feel sad lately. 'Parents, don't rush. Don't lose your temper at every little thing. Be calm, because there's still plenty of time to be present with your children. When you are, they'll feel safe expressing their thoughts and emotions. And sometimes, you may even be surprised and deeply moved by their insight,' he said. Instead of banning social media, he advised parents to accompany their children by watching what their children are watching, commenting on it and following along — not to monitor them, but to understand them. VIETNAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Britain asks China to clarify contested embassy plan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The project comes as the Labour government is looking to reset long-fraught ties with Beijing. LONDON - The British government on Aug 6 asked China to explain partially redacted plans it has submitted for its new London embassy project, which has fanned worries from residents and human rights advocates. China has sought for several years to move its embassy from the chic Marylebone district to a sprawling historic site in the shadow of the Tower of London. It would be the largest embassy complex in Britain, and the project comes as the Labour government is looking to reset long-fraught ties with Beijing. On Aug 6, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner sent a letter to the firm DP9 that represents the Chinese government, requesting details on some documents transmitted during a public inquiry. Ms Rayner sought in particular details on portions of the plans that had been 'greyed-out' or 'redacted for security reasons'. The letter was published online by Luke de Pulford of the Interparliamentary Alliance on China, an international body, one of its copied recipients. The British government gave China until Aug 20 to respond. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds World Trump eyes 100% chips tariff, but 0% for US investors like Apple World White House says Trump open to meeting Russia's Putin and Ukraine's Zelensky Singapore MRT track issue causes 5-hour delay; Jeffrey Siow says 'we can and will do better' Singapore ST Explains: What is a track point fault and why does it cause lengthy train disruptions? Singapore ST and Uniqlo launch design contest for Singapore stories T-shirt collection Sport Son Heung-min joins Los Angeles FC in record MLS deal Singapore S'pore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities: Chan Chun Sing The proposed embassy site, which Beijing bought in 2018 for a reported US$327 million (S$421 million), once housed the Royal Mint. It was earlier home to a Cistercian abbey built in 1348 but is currently derelict. In 2022, the local authority, Tower Hamlets Council, unanimously rejected China's plans, which include designs by the renowned firm David Chipperfield Architects. In July 2024, Beijing resubmitted the proposals almost entirely unchanged. AFP
