The Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to unseal long-secret grand jury transcripts from the Jeffrey Epstein case, citing “intense public interest” and a renewed push for transparency under Attorney General Pam Bondi. On Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed a motion in Manhattan federal court requesting the release of transcripts from Epstein’s 2019 grand jury proceedings, as well as those related to the prosecution of his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

The motion follows the release of a DOJ and FBI memorandum earlier this month outlining an internal review of the Epstein investigation. That review concluded there was no evidence to support charges against any additional uncharged individuals. Nevertheless, the DOJ argues that the ongoing public fascination with the case warrants making these grand jury materials public.

Although grand jury proceedings are traditionally confidential, the DOJ notes that federal courts have made exceptions in cases with extraordinary public or historical significance. The filing asserts that Epstein’s case meets this standard, referring to him as “the most infamous pedophile in American history” and describing the scandal as “a national disgrace” that demands public transparency.

In its filing, the DOJ promises to protect victims’ identities, stating that all names and personally identifying details will be redacted prior to the release. Additionally, prosecutors argue that Epstein’s death in 2019 substantially reduces any remaining privacy interests he may have had, further justifying the unsealing of these records.

Though Ghislaine Maxwell is still appealing her 2021 conviction, the DOJ contends that the overwhelming public interest outweighs her legal objections. The department hopes the court will lift existing protective orders, enabling the release of grand jury transcripts and bringing long-awaited answers to a case that has drawn global attention.