Epstein grand jury materials withheld
The DOJ has begun petitioning federal judges to release Epstein grand jury records, so far to no avail. Judge Engelmayer in the S.D.N.Y. is one who recently denied a request, finding that "The Justice Department’s “entire premise—that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein’s and Maxwell’s crimes, or the Government’s investigation into them—is demonstrably false.” Engelmayer is a 2011 Obama appointee and, from his record, an intelligent and conscientious judge in the old-fashioned liberal line, with a strong traditional focus on the Bill of Rights.
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2 comments:
I don't entirely disagree with the judge on this one. Grand Jury transcripts should be secret until the relevant public trial, in order to protect the innocent who might appear in the transcripts and to protect the seemingly sleazy but uncharged who might appear.
Releasing them because somebody finds it convenient to have them public--even for otherwise apparently sound convenience, here to lay to rest (or confirm) a variety of conspiracy theories regarding matters Epstein--isn't sufficient reason.
Aside from that, I understand there are some cases still at least nominally in progress that could be jeopardized by their release.
Eric Hines
I don't disagree with him, either. He doesn't appear to be a deranged leftist. He looks to me like a smart and principled judge within his own political leanings, despite my disagreement with them. If it were otherwise, I'd be inclined to doubt his review of the materials, but I don't find it difficult to believe that the grand jury materials in fact shed no light on the issue that is convulsing the country, and there are very good reasons for GJ materials to be privileged.
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