On August 20, 2025, the ongoing saga surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case took another dramatic turn in a New York federal courtroom. U.S. District Judge Richard Berman firmly rejected a Justice Department motion to release grand jury transcripts related to Epstein’s notorious sex trafficking case, describing the request as a “diversion” from the far more substantial trove of Epstein files already in the government’s possession, according to The Associated Press.
This marked the third and final time a federal judge has denied nearly identical petitions from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to unseal grand jury materials linked to Epstein. Judge Berman’s decision did not mince words: he emphasized that the DOJ holds about 100,000 pages of Epstein-related documents that are not subject to grand jury secrecy rules, making the government the “logical party to make comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein Files.” As Berman wrote in his ruling, the grand jury testimony is “merely a hearsay snippet” of Epstein’s alleged crimes and “pales in comparison” to the DOJ’s broader investigative files.
The controversy over these documents has been brewing for months, but it reached a boiling point in mid-July when President Donald Trump, a former longtime friend of Epstein, directed the DOJ to seek the release of the grand jury materials. This move came amid what The Associated Press described as a “fierce backlash” from both supporters and critics over the Trump administration’s “refusal to release” the much larger collection of Epstein documents in its possession.
Judge Berman’s ruling did more than just shut down the DOJ’s latest legal maneuver. It also publicly called out the Trump Justice Department for what he characterized as a misdirection. As reported by NBC News, Berman’s decision was echoed in media commentary and political circles. MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, for instance, highlighted the judge’s public rebuke of the DOJ, framing the failed legal push as a calculated distraction from the broader issue of transparency surrounding the Epstein files.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse also weighed in, describing Trump’s Justice Department as “equal parts gangster and gong show.” The senator’s pointed criticism, aired on national television, underscored the deep political divisions and suspicions that have dogged the Epstein investigation from the start. Whitehouse’s remarks captured a sentiment that has only grown more intense as the public and lawmakers demand answers about what the government knows—and what it might be withholding.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee has been ramping up pressure on the DOJ to release the files. According to Politico and The Wall Street Journal, the committee—now under GOP leadership—has compelled the DOJ to begin handing over the Epstein files, with plans to publicly release some of the materials after the first batch is received on August 22, 2025. Representative Garcia, a Democrat serving on the committee, told MSNBC that “it’s time to end the White House cover-up of Jeffrey Epstein,” echoing calls from both sides of the aisle for greater transparency and accountability.
The DOJ, for its part, now finds itself in a precarious position. While it could technically appeal Judge Berman’s rejection, The Washington Post noted that the administration has not pursued appeals in the two previous, nearly identical rulings. Instead, the DOJ is being forced—under congressional pressure—to begin the process of disclosing the Epstein files, a move that could have far-reaching implications for both the Trump administration and the broader investigation into Epstein’s alleged crimes and connections.
Judge Berman’s ruling was especially notable for its emphasis on the scale and significance of the government’s Epstein files. “With some 100,000 pages of material and no grand jury secrecy constraints, the government is the logical party to make comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein Files,” Berman wrote. In other words, the judge made clear that the real story lies not in the limited grand jury testimony, but in the vast and largely unexamined trove of investigative documents held by the DOJ.
Political reactions to the ruling have been swift and polarized. Supporters of President Trump argue that the administration is simply following legal protocols and protecting sensitive information, while critics accuse the White House of stonewalling and obfuscation. Some, like MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, have gone so far as to suggest that the administration has used every tool at its disposal—legal and otherwise—to keep the most damaging information from seeing the light of day. O’Donnell quipped that Trump “uses his desk to hide his swollen ankles & his Attorney General to hide the Epstein files,” a jab that reflects the charged atmosphere surrounding the case.
Others, including members of the House Oversight Committee, have focused on the need for transparency and public accountability. Representative Garcia declared, “Bill Barr says Trump’s AG Bondi can release Epstein files now,” referencing former Attorney General Barr’s assertion that there are no longer legal impediments to disclosure. This sentiment has found support among some Republicans as well, with committee leaders stating their intention to “publicly release” portions of the files as soon as they are received from the DOJ.
All of this comes against a backdrop of intense public interest in the Epstein case, which has ensnared high-profile figures across politics, business, and entertainment. The demand for answers is not limited to one party or ideology; rather, it reflects a broader frustration with the pace and transparency of the investigation. As Rep. Crockett, another committee member, put it in an interview with MSNBC: “I want to know how deep this goes.”
Despite the legal wrangling and political posturing, the next steps are clear: the DOJ must begin releasing Epstein files to the House Oversight Committee starting August 22, 2025. What happens after that remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—public scrutiny of the Epstein investigation is only likely to intensify as more information comes to light.
The Epstein files saga has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over government transparency, executive power, and public trust. With Judge Berman’s ruling, the focus now shifts from the courtroom to Congress—and, ultimately, to the American people, who continue to demand the full story behind one of the most explosive criminal cases in recent memory.
