Judge Delays Decision on Unsealing Ghislaine Maxwell Grand Jury Records, Seeks More Information

A federal judge overseeing the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury records from Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal case has indicated he plans to rule “expeditiously” but requires additional information before making a decision. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, in a new order filed Tuesday, stated that the initial motion from the Justice Department “does not adequately address” the factors for disclosing secret grand jury information.

Engelmayer has given the government until July 29 to submit a brief further outlining their justification for seeking the records’ release. This briefing should address whether they have already reviewed grand jury transcripts from Maxwell’s case and if victims were notified prior to their motion to unseal. The order also mandates the government to file under seal an index of Maxwell grand jury transcript materials, the transcripts themselves, and a proposed redacted set.

Separately, lawyers for Maxwell have requested to review any grand jury testimony before taking a position on its public release, a request Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly does not oppose. Engelmayer has also set an August 5 deadline for victims in the case to express their positions regarding the disclosure of the grand jury transcripts.

This legal development comes as the Justice Department attempts to unseal sensitive grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein and meet with Maxwell. An objection from Maxwell could further complicate the process. The efforts to release additional Epstein material follow an announcement from President Donald Trump last week, who stated he had ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of more information following calls for greater transparency.

Bondi confirmed Monday that Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche would meet with Ghislaine Maxwell in the “coming days.” “President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,” Blanche stated, according to Bondi’s post on X.

Democrats have voiced criticism regarding any potential arrangement with Maxwell. Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., accused DAG Blanche of acting as a “political agent of President Trump to forestall the release of the full Epstein files by tacitly floating a pardon for Maxwell in return for information that politically benefits President Trump.”

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