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Case 1:19-cr-00490-RMB Document63_ Filed 07/22/25 Page 1of4
OCI Rs LNT
HLECTRONICALLAY I
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Government,
19 CR, 490 (RMB)
-against-
ORDER
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
Defendant.
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The Court has received a four page “United States? Motion to Unseal Grand Jury
Transcripts” filed with the 8.D.N.Y. Clerk’s Office on Friday evening, July 18, 2025. See ECF
No. 61 (Gov’t Motion), The Gov’t Motion requests that the Court “unseal the underlying grand
jury transcripts in United States v. Epstein, subject to appropriate redactions of victim-related and
other personal identifying information.” Jd. at 1-2.
The Court intends to resolve this motion expeditiously. However, the Court cannot rule
on the motion without additional submissions from the Government. Specifically:
Memorandum of law: Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e) codified the practice,
“older than our Nation itself,’ that proceedings before a grand jury shall generally remain
secret,” Jn re Petition of Craig, 131 F.3d 99, 102 (2d Cir. 1997) (quoting Jn re Biaggi, 478 F.2d
489, 491 (2d Cir. 1973) (Friendly, C.J.)); see also Douglas Oil Co. of Cal. v. Petrol Stops Nw.,
44} U.S. 211, 218 (1979). Rule 6(e}(3) lists exceptions to the rule of secrecy but these are not
invoked by the Government’s Motion. The Second Circuit - but not many other circuits - has
recognized that there are certain “special circumstances” in which release of grand jury records
may be appropriate, based upon a court’s supervisory authority over grand juries it empanels.! See
' The Seventh Circuit agrees that a district court may order the release of grand jury materials upon
a showing of special circumstances. See Carlson v. United States, 837 F.3d 753, 766-67 (7th Cir.
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