Judge orders trove of unseen Epstein evidence to be made public

U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith ordered the release of grand jury materials from investigations into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

After rejecting a similar bid earlier this year, Smith said on Friday that the Epstein Files Transparency Act granted him the authority to release grand jury transcripts.

"The Act applies to unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials that relate to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Consequently, the later-enacted and specific language of the Act trumps Rule 6's prohibition on disclosure," Smith wrote.

It was not immediately clear when the materials would be available to the public.