A federal judge in New York rejected the Trump administration's request to release protected grand jury materials from Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking case, labeling the motion as a potential diversion.

According to a Daily Mail Online report, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman ruled on Wednesday that the Justice Department failed to offer sufficient justification for unsealing the transcripts and exhibits. The decision came after Attorney General Pam Bondi filed motions last month in both New York and Florida to disclose the testimony amid public outrage over the handling of Epstein-related files.

The judge, appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1998, has faced criticism from Trump supporters for alleged partisanship in past rulings. Berman specifically noted in his decision that no special circumstances were demonstrated to warrant breaching grand jury secrecy.

Judge Labels Request a Diversion Tactic

Berman's ruling emphasized that the government's motion seemed like a distraction from broader Epstein documents already in federal possession. He wrote that while the administration could logically disclose public Epstein files, this particular request lacked the necessary scope and merit.

The Trump team argued that ongoing public interest in Epstein's cases justified the unsealing, pointing out that time had not diminished curiosity about the sex trafficker's activities. They revealed that the New York case involved only two witnesses—an FBI agent and a New York Police Department officer—both of whom remain alive.

Florida's court quickly denied a similar motion filed on July 18, while New York's required additional reasoning before issuing the denial. This setback adds to frustrations among Trump's MAGA supporters, who accuse Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel of orchestrating a cover-up by not being transparent with all Epstein materials.

Epstein's Ties to Powerful Figures Exposed

Epstein had documented connections to influential people, including former President Bill Clinton, who received a $1,000 donation from him during the 1992 presidential campaign. Two years later, Epstein contributed $10,000 to a White House redecoration project, earning him and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell an invitation to a donors' reception hosted by Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Flight logs from Epstein's private jet, known as the Lolita Express, show Clinton took at least 17 trips between 2002 and 2003, often accompanied by staff, Secret Service agents, and Clinton Foundation supporters. These links have fueled public speculation that political ties are hindering full disclosure of Epstein's files.

President Trump also appears on the flight logs and had personal associations with Epstein, such as the financier's attendance at Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. Americans believe these elite connections in politics and business are blocking the release of documents related to Epstein's crimes and his 2019 death in prison.

Public Outrage Over Transparency Grows

Trump posted on Truth Social last month, directing Bondi to seek court approval for releasing pertinent grand jury testimony, citing the immense publicity surrounding Epstein. He stated this action was in response to backlash over what many see as a lackluster review of the files by his administration.

Conspiracy theories persist online that Epstein was murdered in August 2019, staged to appear as a suicide, despite the Trump-era Justice Department's conclusion that he took his own life. These claims contribute to demands for greater openness, with critics arguing the administration has not fulfilled promises of transparency.

Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for her role in sex trafficking, was interviewed for nine hours over two days last month by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in Florida. She was then transferred to a Texas prison and is reportedly positioning herself for a potential pardon from Trump.

Future Battles Over Epstein Files Loom

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, a Clinton appointee serving as a senior judge in New York's Southern District since 2011, denied the motion after deeming the Trump administration's reasoning inadequate for unsealing the grand jury materials. The request stemmed from public anger over perceived lack of transparency in Epstein's cases, which involved sex trafficking charges in New York and Florida.

Berman highlighted that the motion appeared as a diversion from the full range of Epstein files held by the government, without showing special circumstances to justify the release. This ruling occurred in the Southern District of New York, following a similar denial in Florida, amid ongoing scrutiny of elite connections to Epstein.

The Trump administration may pursue further legal avenues or alternative disclosures to address MAGA base claims of a cover-up by officials like Bondi and Patel. With persistent public interest and conspiracy theories about Epstein's death, additional motions or reviews could emerge to push for unsealing more documents in the coming months.