Epstein files latest: Judge denies request to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell transcripts

House Oversight Cmte. issues subpoenas related to Epstein files

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani and the Washington Examiner's Kaelan Deese join LiveNOW's Andrew Craft to break down the latest flurry of subpoenas from the House Oversight Committee related to the Jeffrey Epstein files.

A judge on Monday denied a request to unseal transcripts from the grand jury that indicted Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. 

Here’s what to know about the decision: 

Ghislaine Maxwell case

The backstory:

Maxwell’s case has been the subject of heightened public focus since an outcry over the Justice Department’s statement last month saying that it would not be releasing any additional documents from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

Federal prosecutors had asked to unseal the secret grand jury testimony, in an effort to calm suspicions about what the government knows about Epstein, a well-connected financier who died behind bars while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Maxwell, his socialite ex-girlfriend, was later convicted of helping him prey on underage girls.

FILE - Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, announces charges against Ghislaine Maxwell during a July 2, 2020, press conference in New York City. (Photo by Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Presently:

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said Monday in a written ruling that the government had suggested that the materials could be released publicly "casually or promiscuously," which would risk "unraveling the foundations of secrecy upon which the grand jury is premised" and eroding confidence by persons called to testify before future grand juries.

Dig deeper:

Prosecutors have said much of what was discussed behind the grand jury’s closed doors ultimately became public at Maxwell’s 2021 trial in 2021, in victims’ civil lawsuits or in public statements from victims and witnesses. The only grand jury witnesses were law enforcement officers.

What they're saying:

"And it is no answer to argue that releasing the grand jury materials, because they are redundant of the evidence at Maxwell’s trial, would be innocuous. The same could be said for almost any grand jury testimony, by summary witnesses or others, given in support of charges that later proceeded to trial," he added.

Recently:

Maxwell recently was interviewed by the Justice Department and was moved from a prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas. Her attorney says she testified truthfully.

READ MORE: Ghislaine Maxwell blocked from puppy training program in federal prison camp

Meanwhile:

Another federal judge is still weighing whether to release the transcripts from the grand jury testimony that led to Epstein’s indictment.

RELATED: DOJ told Trump he's named in Epstein files, WSJ reports

Epstein Congress subpoenas

Clintons subpoenaed in House Oversight's Epstein probe

House Republicans subpoenaed Bill and Hillary Clinton for Jeffrey Epstein testimony. Rep. James Comer posted on X: "The House Oversight Committee is compelling the following individuals to appear for depositions through issued subpoenas: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: October 9, Former President Bill Clinton: October 14, Former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland: October 2, Former FBI Director James Comey: October 7..."

Big picture view:

The powerful House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for Maxwell to testify on Aug. 11. But Rep. James Comer, the committee’s chairman, said her testimony has been postponed indefinitely while her appeal to the Supreme Court is pending. Comer said the committee has rejected Maxwell’s request for immunity in exchange for her testimony.

READ MORE: Ghislaine Maxwell willing to answer more questions if she gets immunity

What's next:

The committee also issued subpoenas to conduct sworn questioning of former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and eight former top law enforcement officials.

Bill Clinton, a Democrat, was one of Epstein’s many famous former friends. So was President Donald Trump, a Republican. Both men have said they knew nothing of Epstein’s crimes until he was charged, and Epstein’s accusers have not alleged any wrongdoing by Trump or Clinton.

The Justice Department is also considering releasing the audio file and transcript of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s interview with Maxwell at a Florida courthouse.