Latest news with #Paul Engelmayer
Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ghislaine Maxwell's grand jury records to remain sealed
Ghislaine Maxwell and her partner Jeffrey Epstein were both charged with sex trafficking. (New York state sex offender registry/AFP pic) NEW YORK : A US judge denied today the justice department's bid to unseal records from the grand jury that indicted the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's partner Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges, writing that the records did not answer lingering questions from the public about their crimes or Epstein's death. Manhattan-based US district judge Paul Engelmayer, who reviewed the transcripts of the witness testimony heard by the grand jury and other evidence the panel saw, wrote that the government's assertion that the materials would reveal meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes was 'demonstrably false'. 'A member of the public familiar with the Maxwell trial record who reviewed the grand jury materials that the government proposes to unseal would thus learn next to nothing new,' Engelmayer wrote. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty. Neither the justice department nor a lawyer for Maxwell immediately responded to requests for comment. Epstein socialised with the wealthy and powerful, and his death in jail 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. President Donald Trump, a Republican, had promised to make public Epstein-related files if re-elected and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But in July, the justice department said a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Trump's supporters. Seeking to quell the discontent from his base of conservative supporters and congressional Democrats, Trump instructed attorney-general Pam Bondi last month to seek the release of the Epstein and Maxwell grand jury material, as he sought to quell discontent over his administration's handling of documents from the cases. But Engelmayer wrote that the Maxwell grand jury proceedings, which consisted of testimony from two law enforcement agents, did not contain noteworthy information that had not previously been made public at Maxwell's month-long trial four years ago. 'The materials do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor. They do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein's or Maxwell's,' the judge wrote. 'They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epstein's death.' Engelmayer acknowledged that the extent to which the material had already been made public weighed in favour of unsealing the records. But he said that was not enough to outweigh the 'systemic interest' in maintaining the secrecy of grand jury proceedings. Grand juries operate largely out of the public eye to prevent interference in criminal investigations and to protect the reputations of individuals who are not charged with crimes.
Fox News
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Epstein grand jury materials won't be released after federal judge denies DOJ request to unseal
A federal judge has denied the Justice Department's motion to unseal grand jury materials related to the sex trafficking cases against dead trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime lover and convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. In a 31-page opinion and order on the motion, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer shot down the motion, finding the documents do not contain "significant, undisclosed information about [their] crimes, or the investigation into them." He wrote that only two "features" of the grand jury evidence were noteworthy, summarizing them in his decision: "First, the grand juries in this case were not used for investigative purposes," he wrote. "They did not hear testimony from any firsthand witness to any event at issue. They did not hear testimony from any victim, eyewitness, suspect, or even a records custodian. The grand juries met instead for the quotidian purpose of returning an indictment." The only witnesses were members of law enforcement, and each grand jury heard evidence only for one day, he wrote. "Second, the evidence put before the Maxwell grand juries is today, with only very minor exceptions, a matter of public record," Engelmayer continued. "The Government admitted as much." In addition to transcripts of grand jury testimony, the Justice Department also wanted to unseal additional evidence presented as exhibits to the grand jurors. They were expected to include more names than have been publicly associated with the latter in criminal and civil court proceedings. But Engelmayer denied the government's request for the exhibits, too. Read the judge's decision: "A member of the public familiar with the Maxwell trial record who reviewed the grand jury materials that the Government proposes to unseal would thus learn next to nothing new," he wrote. "The materials do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor. They do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein's or Maxwell's. They do not reveal any heretofore unknown means or methods of Epstein's or Maxwell's crimes." They also do not shed any new light on the origin of Epstein's wealth, the circumstances of his death, or "the path of the Government's investigation," he added. The grand jury exhibits cannot be released without a court's permission, but federal prosecutors asked to have them unsealed due to intense public interest across the country. Details about what relationship, if any, the named individuals may have had with Epstein or Maxwell were not immediately clear. Prosecutors asked the court to give them until Thursday, Aug. 14, to notify anyone whose name would be unveiled. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was convicted at trial in 2021 of helping her former lover, Epstein, traffic teen girls. She is appealing her conviction and has indicated in recent weeks that she is willing to sit for interviews with Congress and the Justice Department. Epstein died in a federal jail cell in 2019 before he faced trial himself. His official cause of death has been ruled a suicide, a conclusion rejected by his brother. This is a breaking news story. Check back with Fox News Digital for updates.
CTV News
11-08-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Epstein partner Ghislaine Maxwell's grand jury records to remain sealed
FILE: Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, speaks during a news conference to announce charges against Ghislaine Maxwell in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) NEW YORK - A U.S. judge denied on Monday the Justice Department's bid to unseal records from the grand jury that indicted the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's partner Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges, writing that the records did not answer lingering questions from the public about their crimes or Epstein's death. Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, who reviewed the transcripts of the witness testimony heard by the grand jury and other evidence the panel saw, wrote that the government's assertion that the materials would reveal meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes was 'demonstrably false.' 'A member of the public familiar with the Maxwell trial record who reviewed the grand jury materials that the Government proposes to unseal would thus learn next to nothing new,' Engelmayer wrote. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty. Neither the Justice Department nor a lawyer for Maxwell immediately responded to requests for comment. Epstein socialized with the wealthy and powerful, and his death in jail sparked conspiracy theories that other prominent people were involved in his alleged crimes and that he was murdered. The New York City chief medical examinerdetermined that Epstein's death was a suicide by hanging. President Donald Trump, a Republican, had promised to make public Epstein-related files if reelected and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But in July, the Justice Department said a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Trump's supporters. Seeking to quell the discontent from his base of conservative supporters and congressional Democrats, Trump instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi last month to seek the release of the Epstein and Maxwell grand jury material, as he sought to quell discontent over his administration's handling of documents from the cases. But Engelmayer wrote that the Maxwell grand jury proceedings, which consisted of testimony from two law enforcement agents, did not contain noteworthy information that had not previously been made public at Maxwell's month-long trial four years ago. 'The materials do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor. They do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein's or Maxwell's,' the judge wrote. 'They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epstein's death.' Engelmayer acknowledged that the extent to which the material had already been made public weighed in favor of unsealing the records. But he said that was not enough to outweigh the 'systemic interest' in maintaining the secrecy of grand jury proceedings. Grand juries operate largely out of the public eye to prevent interference in criminal investigations and to protect the reputations of individuals who are not charged with crimes. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Porter)
ABC News
11-08-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Judge rejects Trump administration's bid to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury transcripts
A US judge has denied the Trump administration's bid to unseal records from the grand jury that indicted convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, on sex trafficking charges. Manhattan-based US District Judge Paul Engelmayer said the government's assertion that the materials would reveal meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes was "demonstrably false". Judge Engelmayer reviewed the transcripts of the witness testimony heard by the grand jury and other evidence the panel saw before delivering his decision. "A member of the public familiar with the Maxwell trial record who reviewed the grand jury materials that the Government proposes to unseal would thus learn next to nothing new," he wrote. He added unsealing the documents would risk "unravelling the foundations of secrecy upon which the grand jury is premised", by eroding the confidence of people called to testify before future grand juries. The verdict is in line with those of a Florida judge who declined to release grand jury documents from investigations related to the case in 2005 and 2007. Another federal judge still is weighing up whether to release the transcripts from the grand jury testimony that led to Epstein's indictment. The Justice Department had asked to release the records to quell a storm among supporters of President Donald Trump who believe there is a conspiracy to protect Epstein's clients and conceal videos of crimes being committed. Prosecutors have said much of what was discussed behind the grand jury's closed doors ultimately became public at Maxwell's trial in 2021, in victims' civil lawsuits or in public statements from victims and witnesses. The only grand jury witnesses were law enforcement officers. However, the decision regarding the grand jury transcripts does not affect thousands of other pages that the US government possesses but has declined to release. The Justice Department has said much of the material was court-sealed to protect victims, and little of it would have come out if Epstein had gone to trial. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of sex-trafficking charges in 2021. Appealing her conviction, the former girlfriend of Epstein opposed unsealing the documents. Maxwell's lawyers said she had not seen the transcripts, but believed they were full of questionable statements that her defence had no opportunity to challenge. She was recently interviewed by senior officials from the Justice Department, and was subsequently moved from a prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas. Her attorney said she testified truthfully. Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on separate sex-trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty. Neither the Justice Department nor a lawyer for Maxwell immediately responded to requests for comment. Reuters/AP
